Free-For-All Friday 12/24/10
Decatur Metro | December 24, 2010Feel free to use this post to make comments and ask questions about local issues not discussed here in the past week. Or just convey holiday wishes!
Comments close Monday.
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This week’s Free-For-All Friday is brought to you by Feather Baby, winner of Atlanta Magazine’s “Green Award” in their recent “Best of Atlanta” issue. Here’s the quote…
“Lucky Atlantans enjoy the only brick-and-mortar store for national brand Feather Baby, spotted on celeb tots and already in hundreds of boutiques across the country. The founders (and their 5 year old triplets) now live in Decatur and use the store to test new ideas.”
Latest from Decaturish
New houses are popping up all over Decatur, and I often wonder how many of those homes really embrace our beautiful community. How many of them are “visitable” spaces that welcome all folks, including friends and neighbors who use wheelchairs?
Basic home access elements include one zero-step entrance at the front, side, or back; a ground-floor full or half-bath, and main doors with at least 32” wide passage space. Those changes can be built into a new house for as little as $250 as opposed to the thousands of dollars that it takes to modify an existing home. And they make houses more maneuverable for people with bikes, fractures, furniture, and heavy packages, too.
If you know someone who’s building this year, ask them to consider making their house one that welcomes rather than excludes and that adapts as they age-in-place. To learn more, visit Concrete Change, a local advocacy organization that spearheaded the visitability movement: http://www.concretechange.org/. Have a wonderful holiday, neighbors!
Thank you so much for your post. My wheelchair bound sister who passed away in October was central to my thinking about purchasing homes and vacation rentals and visits to restaurants and stores for 24 years. And I will never understand why houses are built without a full bathroom (or shower) and possible bedroom on the ground floor. The unexpected happens whether temporary or permanent and this foresight eliminates one more problem for consideration.
Terrific info! I wasn’t familiar with Concrete Change. Their website does an excellent job of providing info on the 3 “musts” that need to be included in all future builds. Perfect fit for the City’s Strategic Plan Goals!
OK a few end of the year clean up items:
– Any word on what ever happened to Jimmy Johns coming to where Tastings was?
– I have never seen someone work so much and get so little done as the big man who sits in the booth by the window at the diner….is he just mocking us????
– Sorry to see Eurasia go…everyone seems to have liked it but not go there…but I am excited for the new Italian place…we have been needing one here
– Glad to see the Square Pub making it and it seems like a great addition
HAPPY HOLIDAYS DECATUR
I have never seen someone work so much and get so little done as the big man who sits in the booth by the window at the diner….is he just mocking us????
That is hilarious!
Feather Baby is a nice addition to Decatur….in the old Whit’s End space. Still miss that store……
Happy for Feather Baby–their stuff is gorgeous. But I miss Whit’s End too. Not just the merchandise but also the expert advice and neighborly chats.
Can anyone convince The Fifth Earl to come back ? It looks
like their space will be ready soon! I miss their yummy
sandwiches!
Seconded. It was a nice place to enjoy a beer with a friend, as well.
I noticed this week that when on West Ponce heading away from downtown that the left lane is now left turn only for Trinity… this puts those turning left onto Adair into a dangerous position! Especially since most do not notice that the lane is now left turn only. So, if I get into the right lane to go through the light but then I must quickly get back in to the left lane to make my turn, or even just to continue straight down Ponce, I now have to make sure that those in the left lane turned instead of going straight. Awww, whatever, it’s even too difficult to explain and just thinking about it makes my head hurt. I like the repaving of Ponce, but the rest of it is just BS.
Am I the only one who feels this way?
Ok, rant over, now I can get into the holiday spirit. Merry Christmas Decaturites, I really am thankful to live here and have the best neighbors ever!
Pass on your concerns to Amanda Thompson at the City.
What’s wrong with keeping the lefthand turn drivers out of my way so I can continue straight on West Ponce? Just getting use to the change will make it safer.
Here’s why…it’s counter-intuitive. You have to CHANGE LANES to go STRAIGHT, which isn’t logical. Further, when folks realize they have to change, they tend to do so abruptly.
God help any poor cyclist who might be in that lane.
I turn left onto Adair, and folks are using the cycling lane for a passing lane.
Again, I hope that doesn’t turn into an accident waiting to happen.
I also noticed that the left lane were Commerce changes into Columbia Dr near the Citgo merges into the right, before it was the opposite.
Am I losing my mind, or hasn’t the left lane westbound always been a turn lane?!? I know I’m getting old and alcohol has killed some of the weaker brain cells, but I’d swear that’s the case. It just wasn’t really a problem because there were still two lanes after the light and now it funnels into one, with the one being really a continuation of the left lane.
In any event, it definitely is a problem now. I almost got creamed by a soccer mom in a SUV the other day. The best part was when I honked at her (OK, really, really laid on the horn for a good 5 seconds) and she slammed on her brakes, almost came to a stop and opened her window just to flip me off. Priceless. Too bad one of Decatur’s finest wasn’t there to ticket her.
When I first went through the new intersection I didn’t see the turn arrow until I was right up on it (too late) and I ended up going straight through the light in the turn lane. The lane certainly needs more warning that it is becoming a turn lane.
Anyone know if most restaurants are opened tonight? I am usually cooking on Christmas Eve but not this year!
Looks like The Marlay is open this evening (and Christmas night at 6, drinks only). Taqueria del Sol is closed today and tomorrow.
My friend Ralphie says that Chinese restaurants are open. Try the duck.
Sushi Avenue is open both today (both locations) and tomorrow (the location on the square only).
Pyng Ho is open and they deliver.
Knock on wood, this is the first year ever, since children, that I have all presents done up, all food preparations in order, even stockings ready, without having to stay up until 3 AM Christmas morning finishing up. I have picked up hand-made pottery, cookie and pie orders, and exercised. (It’s not that I am so accomplished but I announced, and have tried to enforce, a “less is more” policy this year, not sent out Christmas cards, avoided gifts that take assembly, taken lots of time off of work, and put up visiting relatives in a local hotel). Merry Christmas to me! I know I’ll probably never be able to pull this off again but I’m enjoying this luxury while I can.
Happy holidays, Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, Happy Kwanza, Feliz Navidad, Joyeux Noel, and Bah Humbug to all!
You forgot Festivus for the rest of us!
Hey Decatur Metro, you going to say anything about Decatur Patch bringing local news to the internet?
DM spotlighted a P story the other day. Then had to amend it. Pesky details!
I have to give them props since I have voiced displeasure before. I went into the Decatur Kroger yesterday for the first time in a while and it is clean, well stocked and, most importantly, all cashier lanes were open and staffed by nice, smiling people. Someone is on the job there and doing great!
The young people that work there are friendly and enthusiastic. Many go to DHS. It feels way more neighborly than it has in years.
I’ve noticed the recent friendliness too.
Like most of Decatur, I was at the DFM buying food yesturday for the up coming
holiday. A spiral cut ham was last on my list of items. When I went to pull it
out of the cooler (by the pork dept) I noticed that the ham wasn’t very cool so
I touched the sides of the cooler to check that it was working. It was not
working. I approached a person in the meat department and explained that the
cooler wasn’t working and could I please have a cold/frozen ham. The meat
manager came back with a instant read thermometer and it was at 64.8. Meat
(mandated by the health department should be stored at no more then 40 degrees).
He told me the cooler would be working soon and that I could buy it or not but I
was not to tell customers that it wasn’t cold enough. (people were gathering) I
insisted that it wasn’t safe (and no returns$65 hams) and he told me that I must leave
the store. I then when to the customer service counter explain the situation
and some did appear with a frozen ham. Did they pull the ones that were above
health code temp? Not so sure. Just FYI for DFM shoppers. I did call the
health dept as well.
Another fine example of YDFM excellent business practices. Why do people still shop there?
I shop there because it is the most awesome place in the world.
Ten years I have lived in Decatur and shop there several times a week. I agree that some things at DFM just can’t be beat. Fresh almond butter, yummy. Some items I stay clear of and I have purchase a couple of items that were not that fresh, but for the most part the price of the organic food is just to good not buy and I pick and choose my items++6. However, I certainly don’t think I should have been asked to leave the store because I was insisting that the comply with safe food handling practices. Not only did I not want to buy a expensive piece of meat to make my whole family sick with, but I didn’t want the fate for anyone else either.
Happy Holidays!!!
I had a similar experience some years back – I bought some cottage cheese that was green when I opened it at home. Lovely surprise. I took it back – not so much for a refund as to alert them that something was possibly wrong with their cooling system as the exp date was weeks away on the label. I was asked, how did they know I was not a spy from their competitors??? And I too was asked to leave. Certainly not the response I was expecting! I’m really not even sure who their competitors are. There’s some sort of strange paranoia that I can’t quite figure out. I’ve had other strange experiences there as well, which sadly has greatly limited my shopping there. I rarely go now, and only to buy a few items that I can’t easily get elsewhere.
Re paranoia: Wasn’t there, in the way, way past, some weirdness around YDFM vs Harry’s. Rift between the brothers who used to both own or run YDFM and then one went on to Harry’s? Weirdness around requiring some kind of spiritual practices of YDFM employees? I can’t remember but a distant bell is ringing.
I recently had a good experience about a refund. I purchased a can food item and noticed when I reached my next destination that they double charged be for it ($4.50). I returned with my receipt and received my refund. Thank you YDFM for trusting an honest customer. I usually inspect my food there as I do not believe all their employees completely understand food safety. I also usually inspect my receipt as well for all stores but I was in a hurry that day.
DFM patrons don’t have these issues. We buy local food and support real people. YDFM, however, does have a variety of issues (and not so much local food). Please be clear that your issue is not with our local market, operated by Decatur homeowners, but with a very different one that’s not in Decatur at all.
If I could consistently find produce at the DFM, Carl, I would agree with you. I want to buy things there, I really do, but everytime I go, I usually leave empty handed and frustrated because I cannot find the local and seasonal produce that I am looking for.
I shop at the YDFM several times a week, every week, and while I understand some have had problems with certain products (and that is unfortunate and no I don’t think you should have been asked to leave the store), I never have had a problem and find it to be such a incredibly valuable local resource for everything I could ever want – a place that communities all over the country are envious of and would love to have in their community. I also have found that they have been doing a much better job of stocking local and regional produce that you could never find at a local farmers market like DFM. When was the last time you have seen local corn or field peas, for example, at the DFM? Never.
YDFM is a WORLD market, not a “local only” market. Support REAL people?!? Kudos to them for employing so many area– and new to the area– folks!!! It’s cool that you strongly support the Decatur Farmer’s Market. Many of us equally enjoy shopping at the very nearby Dekalb market for foods from all over this great planet. We’re blessed to have both!
Having shown YDFM some love… It’s definitely time to let ‘em know that their sometimes poor food/heath dept. standards & customer service horror stories don’t cut it! Things ain’t gonna change until we insist on it!
The banner made me do it. Make that: Decatur Farmers Market.
And Marshall’s right- gotta have corn & field peas!
I got that same impression Deanne. Does Carl not think that the hundreds of people YDFM employs are “real people?” Or how about the many industries that must exist because of the YDFM? Guess the people who own and work for them are not “real people” either. Kind of shows the insular little world he must live.
Maybe not everything they carry is local and/or organic. But as someone who actually cooks for their family, and not who goes out to eat every day and/or gets their food from the Whole Foods hot bar, you’ve got to have something to cook. I don’t think I could subsist on what the DFM carries, particularly this time of year.
I got my family’s holiday ham from Community Q and it was SO GOOD.
We got our ham from Community Q too – delicious! They gave us a quart of their bar-b-que sauce to go with it and my husband got fresh greens/salad mix there too.
Good to know for future holidays. We got an excellent roasted turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie from Mercantile; great apple pie, cookies, challah rolls, and poppyseed/hazelnut/apricot coffee rings from Alon’s; great pecan pie from the German Bakery. The only mistake I made was ordering sides–my family likes plain and boring, not the fancy stuff. But it really helped the stress of the holidays to not have to try to cook while entertaining relatives, some of whom are more intrusive than others.
Am not clear on YDFM and DFM. The recent string is a little confusing. Bottom line is the Soup Nazi now works for YDFM, is that correct?
Maybe the Decatur Farmer’s Market doesn’t have corn & field peas because it doesn’t get much support. The Wens market could draw in several of the larger local farms if it had more support.
Mealor Family Farms was new to the market this year and had a lot of variety. I think they will only grow with their offerings in 2011. They seemed quite receptive to suggestions. Maybe drop them a line and suggest that you are looking for corn & field peas and I bet you might see them on their table next year. FYI – I am a member of their CSA (I am a double CSA family, use Mealor & Love is Love) and did receive both field & pink eye peas in 2010. Also, if you are looking for corn at a local market in Sept/Oct you will not find it as it is out of season.
I have expressed my dislike for YDFM on here several times. I have shopped their since the very early 90s and instead of improving as competion came along they actually decreased in both quality and customer service. I went in in November looking for some berries and a few other things. The berries I bought were worthless within 24 hours, no joke. I am sure part of this is because they were shipped from Mexico and on their last leg when they were packed. The other thing I noticed, the cashiers who were stuck near the opening doors with cold blast of air coming in were more than plesant as they always are. The people that work at custoemr service & on the floor were as rude as ever. You can’t even get them to move one of the carts they are stocking from in order to get what you need.