Free-For-All Friday 12/3/10
Decatur Metro | December 3, 2010Feel free to use this post to make comments and ask questions about local issues not discussed here over the past week.
Comments close Monday.
Feel free to use this post to make comments and ask questions about local issues not discussed here over the past week.
Comments close Monday.
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I’d appreciate any suggestions for a “chimney inspector/sweep” Thanks
LM Richardson does a great, dependable job. He’s who we use.
http://anhonestchimneysweep.com/
I second that!
I second that!
Good morning! I have a few gold jewelry items I would like to sell (remember Add-a-Beads?). Can someone recommend a Decatur jeweler who buys gold? Thanks!
Decatur Jewelers on Clairmont
I second that too!
Alexia jewelery store on W Ponce also has a sign out that they buy gold.
Not to beat a dead horse, but any word on the diner opening? There are plates on the tables now so I thought maybe . . .
Place setting test fit testing is still ongoing. Once the calculations are complete, final ordering of place settings will commence. After that, staff test fitting will begin.
(I have no clue of any actual ongoings at the diner, other than they are still testing ALL the lights except the OPEN sign)
Maybe it should be renamed as the Mary Celeste Diner!
I heard the owners are the same as the ones who opened a 24-hour Greek diner on Scott Blvd. a few years ago in a spot that is now a medical center. Lots of neon and glitter, so-so food, and then they skipped owing suppliers, etc. Makes you wonder how they’re doing it again!
Interesting, Katy. In the same vein, I read in the Tomorrow’s News Today blog that the DD folks are somehow related to the previous operators of Cresent Moon– yeah, the ones who went bankrupt, whose lease was “repossessed” by the previous owner and who had a myriad of other problems.
Remember all the discussion here about 2 years ago?
Here’s the post: http://www.tonetoatl.com/2010/11/birthwatch-progress-report-q4-year-end.html
If this is true– it sure seems to explain a lot.
Same vein as “Landmark Diner”, eh?
These types of operations are often opened for money laundering… They create sales that don’t exist, fund them with illegally-made money, happily pay sales tax on them, then pocket the rest, at the same time leaving vendors high and dry when they finally decide to bail on everybody…. So they don’t really need investors to open up shop – they have tons of money…. A friend of mine who sells foodservice said that they would get months behind on their payments, only to pull out $10,000 in cash to catch up.
Hm.
Well, I heard that the “drain pipe repair” is actually a drug tunnel to Mexico, with a branch running straight to Brazil too! Complete with cable car rides and zip lines, admission to the rides is ordering a “Tex/Mex Scramble”. I also heard the Wikileaks guy has popped in there for coffee. I think I heard all this on Glen Beck, but I might be wrong.
I have heard from the people who used to own Cresent Moon that these are the same exact people and the plan is to either open for a short time and run off without paying any bills or to get investors and then never open.
EIther way, there does always seem to be a large man asleep in a booth every day there…so not sure what is happening!
And I have heard the same thing said about the people who used to own Crescent Moon from the owners of another Decatur establishment.
If they don’t go out of business before they open, this may be the greatest pre-opening marketing campaign in history. I’ve read so many posts that I’ll give it a try just to be seen there!!!!
ALL of their lights always seem to be on ALL day EVERY day. It’s off-putting that they can be so wasteful.
I’m looking for high quality house painters…lots of prep and detail work. Brush only, no spray. Does anyone have a recommendation/good experience? Thanks so much!
This company is excellent. He painted my house and my sister then hired him to paint her house and rebuild her deck. He does beautiful work and does not accept payment until the job is finished.
Joel Henderson
Henderson Painting & Drywall, Inc.
770-784-1035
What’s up with that Greek 24-restaurant on Church and E.Ponce? The lights are on, but nobody’s home.
New around here?
That’s the Coming Soon Diner. “Coming Soon since 2009″
Had to honk my horn and shake my finger this morning at an ambulance that wouldn’t stop for a high school student at a well-marked pedestrian crossing across Lower Ponce this morning. It wasn’t an oversight because cars going the other way were stopped to let the student cross. An ambulance! (I’m pretty sure it was private EMS, not a city or county vehicle).
I’m assuming the ambulance didn’t have its lights/siren on. If so, I might let that one slide.
No! Agreed that ambulance responding to emergency should take precedence–high school student shouldn’t walk into crosswalk in that situation. High school student was actually very prudent and was watching to see what ambulance would do before venturing too far into crosswalk. Ambulance was hell-bent on going through without stopping.
Maybe the ambulance was trying to create an emergency situation to which it could respond.
When is someone gonna do something about all the problems?
I keep doing something, but it keeps making the problems worse.
But, technically, I guess that still should relieve your angst.
Yeah! I know already. When will things get better? I keep picking at the scabs to see if the problems have healed underneath, and sure enough…problems are still there! (And seem to be spreading)
I hear tell some good strong calamine lotion will take care of that…
Anyone have a tankless water heater? positive experience? shortcomings? white size/flow? installation cost paid? recommendations on brand/installers?
um- WATER flow rates for our temperatures…
We’ve had both electric and gas whole-house tankless water heaters. The electric one (SETS) was spotty at best – it would trip the max temp switch and cool off, then heat back up, so you’d get constantly varying temps throughout a shower. It also required some pretty hefty wiring (I think 80 amps). Cost to install (including the heater) was probably around $2500.
The gas one we’ve had is a Rinnai, and we’ve loved it. Constant temp, and endless hot water. It’s also been very economical – gas bills for four people average $25/month (it’s our only gas appliance). Installed cost was a bit higher, probably around $3500.
I’d highly recommend the Rinnai. I’d leave an electric tankless for spot applications (e.g., a remote sink), if that.
I second Rinnai. We used M.Cary and Daughters. They were a bit more expensive than other bids but they are so experienced with old Decatur houses it is worth the piece of mind. Also, constant hot water in the winter is a luxury I didn’t know I needed.
Got a gas one a few years ago, love it. Noritz brand.
The only problem I run into is if I try to make tepid water for showering, typically summer–maybe this is an issue with my house’s plumbing. If the hot tap is only a little open and the cold is open, at some point the hot water shuts down and you get a cold water blast! I have to basically start over, get the temp. right through the spigot, then switch back to the shower head. I think the answer to this is to lower the temp @ the heater so one opens the hot water tap more fully. If memory serves, a friend has commented the same thing happens with hers. That’s my only negative.
The other thing I love is the digital temp. setup at the unit. When I need to bathe the mutts, I set it to 100F (so, water hitting the dogs is probably mid 90’s). That’s the perfect anti-shiver temp for them and it’s super-convenient to not to have to repeatedly “mix” the right temp. Ditto for filling tub for a bath.
Any one have experience with having solar panels installed, or local vendors to recommend? We get pretty good sun on our roof since we lost some tall oak trees a few years back, and it would be nice to take advantage of it.
I looked into it a while back for another house, but the payback period is way too long (25-50 years, depending on the tax subsidies available). Evidently the technology just hasn’t advanced to the point that it makes economic sense at current electricity prices, which is probably why you don’t see many people doing it. I’d be interested to hear whether anyone has had a different experience.
I have tried to educate myself on this topic and would love to hear others’ experiences. Also, I’m wondering (seriously) if the city would approve a windmill if my neighbors and I agreed to put one up in our yards. I’m not so good with chickens, but I could manage wind farming.
Wouldn’t that have to be HUGE to generate any real electricity?
As someone who sails, I’d say a windmill in this area would be a waste of money. It’s just not windy here – unfortunately for me!
As someone with a bunch of unused kites around the house, I’d have to agree that the wind is not impressive in Decatur.
Probably exceeds the height restriction of your zoning district.
My sister had solar panels installed on her house in the SF Bay Area after refinancing her house; she said that the monthly electricity savings and tax credits covered the monthly payment on the loan (I think it was maybe $15K), so that while it was not a money-saver it was at least cash-neutral. Apparently it’s pretty popular over there, but the details of the tax incentives and local electrical rates make all the difference.
JKGA, our firm does solar installs. DM can probably send you my email if you’d like to reach me directly. But, I do want to try and help address your question. (Want to keep this informative and not a sales pitch).
The short story is that’s it’s a little complicated in Georgia.
Here’s the longer story:Residential customers qualify for a 30% Federal Grant if installed BEFORE the end of this year. In 2011, that changes from a Grant to an Incentive Tax Credit which can have some pretty significant impact on payback. For the state of Georgia, there WAS a 35% Incentive Tax Credit for 2010 but the $2.5 Million fund was exhausted in April of 2010. HB1069 was signed into law that allowed a “reservation” system to be put in place so that you could be in line for the Incentive tax credit for 2011 or 2012. From what we understand the 2011 reservation fund is nearly exhausted as well. So, you are left with getting an ITC in 2012.
Commercial systems qualify for an accelerated deprecation schedule which helps improve the payback on the system. Unfortunately, residential systems cannot take advantage of that financial tactic. In terms of budget numbers, I would recommend looking at $5-$6/watt for an installed system with probably a 3 kW to really see an impact on your usage. So, somewhere between $15-$18k.
The good news is that those numbers are improving. The wattage per panel is going up and the cost are coming down. The bad news is that without the Georgia Incentive Tax credit, it makes the numbers hard to work.
I would encourage you to visit the Georgia Solar Energy Association website (www.gasolar.org) for more info. There’s also a list of installers in the area who are doing some really good work (it’s a bit of a small community so, while we’re competitors, we’re also good friends). Of course, feel free to reach out directly to me and I can try and explain the economics in some more detail.
Good luck!
Thanks for the reply.
[edited: sorry richard. no "worst" lists on DM.]
What do you mean by “worst”? The most limited selections? The unhealthiest? The oddest dishes? The least skillfully cooked food? The untastiest? “Worst” covers a lot of territory…and one man’s fried-good heaven is another’s cholestrol hell. Just sayin’.
Say what you will, but Taco Mac’s wings RULE. It’s noisy and crowded, but you gotta love salt and fat dipped in bleu cheese dressing. Yummm . . .
I agree they are good, but I find that if you do not insist on extra cirspy, they’re too soft and fatty.
As far as I’m concerned, Twain’s doesn’t NEED a menu beyond that wonderful Mediterranean plate.
Thanks, DM. No one should be allowed to hate on Twain’s.
You’re welcome, but there is indeed a precedent for this. Worst lists are fun for a few, but can really hurt individuals, not to mention the community.
Thank you for that. People remember bad much longer than good when talking about people or business.
DM: Thank you.
Richard: What’s the point? If you don’t like a place, don’t patronize it. If enough other people share your taste, the business will go away. If enough other people disagree with you, then it will survive but you still aren’t forced to eat there if you don’t want to. I don’t understand going out of your way to foment negativity for no apparent reason.
Any leads on holiday jobs for a college student? –Doesn’t have to be in Decatur but it would be great if he could ride his bike:)!
Is he willing to do yard work such as clearing ivy islands and cutting down volunteer weed trees?
Babysitting – there is a lot of competition for sitters during the holiday season.
What’s the going rate for sitters in Decatur?
i believe it is about $10/hr…more if you have more than one child.
what are other people charging/paying?
I’d say $8/hour for younger teens who have to be picked up and taken home, $10/hour for those who drive themselves and/or the kids, $12/hour for an adult babysitter, $15/hour if the adult babysitter ferries the kids around.
Oh, and you might add $1-$2/hour for more than one child.
We have a gas fireplace that hasn’t worked since we bought the house 3 years ago. Any recommendations for someone who could fix a gas fireplace?
Another great experience at Six Star Subaru Service! I took the ‘boo up there today because our check engine light was on. They hooked it up to the computer and said that the issue that tripped the light was kind of an anomoly and probably won’t happen again. Regardless, they figured out it was nothing serious. So, I left 20 minutes later and with no charge. Despite my love of “Top Gear,” I know next to nothing about cars and they could have taken me for a ride (tee-hee), but their honesty will keep us coming back! WE LOVE SIX STAR!
hey watch top gear us! rut is awesome!
Thanks DM! I won a free month to Kick in the Fit Bootcamp from last week’s free-for-all! Oh wait, now I actually have to do this… sigh.
My $25 credit for AMEX shop small business Saturdya showed up on my statement- thanks those that reminded me to sign up!
Mine did too.
Mine did too. My faith in American Express is restored. Maybe this was just a rough start for a new program, leaving out the part where there’s a listing of qualifying businesses.
Mine too!
Does old rotted siding count as “construction debris”?
If you’re talking about whether or not it will get picked up by city trash workers, the distinction is whether it’s being discarded by the homeowner or by a contractor. Homeowners can toss just about anything, so long as you follow the rules. Contractors need to haul their waste away.
Is rotted siding against the rules?
Shouldn’t be. I dumped a six foot stack of rotted railroad ties in an on-street parking space and they took those. Granted, I emailed the Sanitation Department to clarify they would before I dragged them out there. You may want to do the same because, sometimes, they send a separate truck for big weird stuff. The regular trash crew will pass them by.
I smell a rat war being launched! Go Team DM! :0)
Will the library take donated books, mostly paperbacks (not trashy ones)? I need to clear bookshelves.
The library would be glad to take your books. Any branch will accept donations and paperbacks in good condition often get added to the racks for others to borrow. It’s like a neighborhood bookcase!
Hi Decatur Heights Neighbors!
Traffic Calming Petitions & Neighborhood Watch Enrollment Signing
Saturday 10-noon
The Church at Decatur Heights
in the Community Room
Ignore the Streetscape construction, and come on over! We’re gathering the needed signatures to make Decatur Heights a truly walkable community. Our Neighborhood Watch goal is to be able to share news among all of our neighborhood’s areas. Your participation in both efforts is greatly appreciated!
( “A Season of Giving/Christmas Decatur” will be doing gifts intake in the gym. Excellent time to accomplish two items on the “to do” list! :0)
Hi All!
We’re making steady progress throughout Decatur Heights- and meeting really nice neighbors! The Sycamore Ridge & Sycamore Station communities still need volunteers for door-to-door efforts. If you can lend an afternoon to help out, please contact your Board President to let them know! Thanks!
Anyone know why the Farmer’s Market seems to have added armed (as in rifle’s slung over their shoulder) guards?
I asked one once and he told me they’re at YDFM in the evenings because there’s a lot of cash on the premises at closing.
It was in exchange for letting us skip checking bags.
Does anyone have suggestions for New Year’s Eve plans in the Decatur or Atlanta area? Looking for something fancy, but not too expensive.
Leon’s had a fun party last year and Iberian Pig also had a nice dinner and live music. We started the night with a drink at Leon’s, then 10:00 dinner at the Pig – they had free champagne at midnight – fun, festive environment at both places.
Not Decatur related (yet),but how many people love the Walking Dead show on AMC? Just read Rodney Ho’s AJC’s column about its success. Its ratings have steadily increased since its premier on Halloween, drawing almost double the viewers that Mad Men gets. Maybe they will film some scenes in Decatur next year, when they start shooting the second season.
ME! Love it and can’t wait for season 2.
Thank you Brianc and DTR. I am housebound with that miserable cold that’s going around and looking for diversion. I am downloading episode 1 as I type.
Three was probably too many.
So thumbs up or thumbs down?
Oh, I liked it. Enough to watch three in a row, like a nut.
I told my husband there was no way there was a quarry anywhere that close to Atlanta, and was surprised to be so wrong:
http://www.atlantatimemachine.com/misc/quarry.htm
http://www.mymedia-forum.com/forum/showthread.php?p=3087615
Didn’t they do some shooting in Decatur?
I love it, but then I get all hung up about the totally screwy Atlanta geography. And yes, I totally accept that zombies have overrun the world, but can’t accept that the CDC isn’t in the right place.
Wasn’t that actually the Cobb Energy Performing Arts center?
Yes! It really distracts from the realism of the show if you ask me.
Well, there’s really no way they could have filmed at CDC or even near it.
Yeah, and not because of the security but the impossible parking!
went to iberian pig last night again with the wife and her boss and his wife, as they had never been, they loved it too!
sooooooooooooooo great!
This is a bit late, but Great Job to the parents (especially J.W. for taking the lead), who organized the Sunday Flag Football at Mead Road Park this fall. It was really well run. Thanks also to the several dads who volunteered to coach.
one thing i have for a wishlist for downtown decatur is a well lit, multi pump gas station, like racetrac or qt. or maybe a half size qt/racetrac sometimes i need gas late and its sooooooooo far to drive up to the qt at north dekalb…and i’m lazy
The BP station at Second/Glenwood is closer and a lot easier to get to.
I use the QT on Briarcliff. It’s further than N.Dekalb but easier for me to get to. I believe I noticed pumps in front of the Big Kroger the last time I passed. Looks like they have a fuel center now so I will probably start going there for gas. Wonder how late they are open?
If you mean the big Kroger on Dekalb Industrial, they’ve been there for years – we use them all the time.
Wow, I guess I just never noticed a fuel center there. Haven’t been inside that Kroger in years so maybe that’s why, but boy do I feel unobservant.
The Big Kroger gas has been there for awhile and, if using Kroger Plus card, is often the best deal around, even better than Sam’s Club’s gas. It’s open late if you pay at the pump, I know, because I’ve gotten gas there late enough that it was kind of dark, no attendant was there, I was kind of nervous, and sat inside the locked car while fueliing
The big kroger gas pumps close at 11pm I think. I got there at 10:59:50 once and all the lights went off on the pumps:-( at 11. At that point you have to go elsewhere or come back next day. Because prices are good it is often busy and it can take a few minutes to get to a pump.
A piliated woodpecker was in a tree in our backyard a couple of days ago, not pecking but making loud piliated woodpecker noises. We had a great view of it. Hubbie and daughter are quite excited and tell me this is rare and special. Has anyone else seen any around lately.
I have not seen one lately but we have had them in our yard. They are pretty grand, aren’t they? I’ve been told by old-timers that they are also called Great-God-Almighty birds, as that’s often the reaction they elicit from us.