OK, I made up the name “MEGAMAP”…not to mention put its name in ALL-CAPS.

But regardless, GIS freaks and busy bodies, this is your lucky Monday!

Decatur just released “One Map Decatur”, which essentially is “One Decatur Map to Rule Them All…”.

Zoning maps, parking maps, park maps, historic district maps.  It’ll make your head swim.  But now the City of Decatur has put all that stuff in one handy map!  And it looks like tax information and building permits will also be added eventually, though that functionality didn’t work for me earlier.

Here’s the city blurb on the subject…

In Fall 2010 the City launched geographic information system (GIS) and services for the City of Decatur. This program includes maintenance of the city’s existing data sets, on site staff support and the creation of maps that show a variety of infrastructure and services. GIS integrates hardware, software, and data for capturing and displaying all forms of geographically referenced information. It allows us to visualize data in many ways to analyze patterns, trends or to plan for future infrastructure costs.

As part this program the city has a web based mapping tool that provides basic maps and search functions so residents can explore the city’s data too. We will continually update this tool so keep visiting our site for new information or send in suggestions of what you would like to see included.

Hmm…what to map, what to map….

East College Ave (in front of Trackside Tavern), Decatur GA (pic submitted by Jane)

First introduced at Sawicki’s in Decatur last summer, “The Spotted Trotter” charcuterie is dailing it up a notch and opening a storefront in Kirkwood later this Spring, according to What Now, Atlanta?.

The delicatessen will offer processed meats and retail from a 1,334-square-foot storefront at 1610 Hosea L. Williams Drive in Kirkwood, according to a permit filed with the City of Atlanta in March.

Kevin Ouzts (”Oots”), chef and owner, confirms the now shuttered Corner Market located in the Kirkwood Park shopping center will be home to The Spotted Trotter.

DM profiled Ouzts last June when he first started selling his charcuterie at Sawicki’s.

From the Georgia Center for the Book…

We help to celebrate the 2011 major league baseball season by welcoming a Decatur-based author with a wonderful new book for all fans of the game: ”The House That Ruth Built: A New Stadium, the First Yankees Championship, and the Redemption of 1923.” It’s a dazzling look back at the 1923 New York Yankees, the team that opened Yankee stadium and won the first of the Bronx Bombers’ 27 world titles. The centerpiece of this true story is the mighty Babe Ruth, soon to become the game’s greatest slugger, and the Yankees’ World Series win over their bitter rivals, John McGraw’s New York Giants. Weintraub is a lively writer, and his story is fresh and entertaining whether you’re a long-time baseball fan or just intrigued by the story of the Yankes and the Babe. We’ll have books for sale and signing, so come on out to the ’ol ball park with us!

WABE did a nice interview with Weintraub that aired this morning.  You can listen to it here!

UPDATE: Patch’s article on Weintraub reports that much of the book was written at Dancing Goats in downtown Decatur.