The New York Times recently wrote an article on trees falling around Atlanta recently and somehow determined that the city’s unofficial nickname “The City in the Forest” (not to be confused with Cleveland’s “The Forest City”) is in jeopardy.  Though the article itself gives nothing more than anecdotal evidence of it.

“We’re in emergency mode,” Mr. [city arborist Jasen] Johns said. “I’ve never seen this many down trees.”

OK.  More trees than Mr. Johns has ever seen?  That’s not so great.  But does Mr. Johns have any hard numbers?  Have they calculated the loss rate to be outside of norms?  That the city will soon be a sunny wasteland of parking lots and clear-cut subdivisions?

The city does not track the number of lost trees. But everywhere from the Georgia Forestry Commission to the telephone companies that send out repair crews, Atlantans are noticing gaps in the canopy.

And not only are they noticing, but some are calling it a “Treepocolypse”!

Ok, so we all are aware that trees eventually die, aren’t we?  I don’t mean to belittle the admirable work of many tree-lovers the city over.  My problem is this article, and that it doesn’t base its rather dramatic titling on anything other than casual observation.

If you want to prove a threatened tree canopy, give me something that shows that there’s a huge gap between old growth and new growth. Or something about how new growth just won’t cut it 100 years from now.  Anything that actually shows a vanishing canopy due to recent tree falls!

But whatever.  I guess anything that talks about Atlanta’s “identity” and doesn’t mention the words “Hotlanta” or “Southern Nights” might just be a good thing.

The new issue of Atlanta Magazine is out – at least in the fish-wrap edition – with the top 50 restaurants in the metro Atlanta area according to food writer Bill Addison.

In it, he ranks Decatur’s Cakes & Ale #3, behind only Bacchanalia and Restaurant Eugene.  Here’s a blurb…

Lately Allin has taken more risks. The ingredients still lead, by the flavor combinations and depth of technique bring more thrills.  A riff on vitello tonnato married buttery slices of cold poached pork loin to a mayonnaise infused with escolar, an oily fish.  An arugula, fennel, and celery salad curtailed the richness.  Mediterranean gusto inspired a platter of lamb saddle for two with braised pole beans, herbed fregula (a larger cousin to couscous), tomato, and think, minted yogurt as a rustic sauce.  I can hardly imagine better lamb, – not too gamy, not too mild, cooked to a blush.

Other Decatur area restaurants on the distinguished list of 50?  Community Q BBQ, Taqueria del Sol, and Watershed (with the intro – “Sensational news: Watershed is once again a destination restaurant.).