Month: November 2011

Racktastic!

Spotted today on the Square was this band of merry gentlemen installing what appears to be new bike racks. A quick check with the city’s Amanda Thompson (yes, she belongs to each and every one of us) confirms. Sez Amanda:

“The bicycle rack installation is a project in partnership with Bike Decatur to install more bicycle parking on the Square. Four racks are being installed at the Decatur MARTA Station near Squash Blossom with two more located on East Court Square. Four racks have already been installed on East Ponce de Leon in front of the historic DeKalb County courthouse. A total of 10 bicycle racks are being installed through the Bike Decatur program.”

There may be reasonable objections to public/private partnerships in certain contexts but Decatur doesn’t seem to be one of them. Time and time again, it seems our tax dollars get stretched further when involving the passions of the community. Bike on!

Decatur Represents in Atlanta Magazine’s “Best of Atlanta” List

The city’s Linda Harris has compiled a list of Decatur, GA honorees for this year’s Atlanta Magazine “Best of Atlanta” list over on The Decatur Minute.  So without further ado, let’s copy and paste!

Restaurant Relocation – Cakes & Ale
Best New Restaurants – No. 246
New Food Trucks – W.O.W.! – Duck’s Cosmic Kitchen
No Excuses Exercise – Walk for Lunch
New Tri & Cycle Spot – Decatur Bikes

Inducted into the Hall of Fame were:
Dine & Drink – Taqueria del Sol
Play & Thrive – Jazmin Spa
See & Scene – Eddie’s Attic

Reader’s Survey:
Gifts – Heliotrope
Yoga Studio – Decatur Yoga & Pilates
Sports Bar – Taco Mac

Three Arts-Related Events that originated in Atlanta but featured locations in Decatur:
City Art Project – Living Walls: The City Speaks
Pop-Up Culture – Flux Projects
Scavenger Art – Catlanta

Morning Metro: CSD’s “On the Run” Program, Winder to Tear Down 1899 Hotel, and Right Whales Off the Coast

 

  • Oakhurst Elementary teacher’s “On the Run” program is about more than running [Champion]
  • Spots still available for Decatur’s December Supermarket Tours [Be Active Decatur]
  • Emory launching new Juris Master degree program aimed at non-lawyer types [AJC]
  • Winder Georgia City Council decides to tear down historic hotel [Gwinnett Daily Post]
  • Bell Street Burritos officially opens today on the Westside [AJC Food and More]
  • Right whales headed towards Georgia for winter birthing season [AP]
  • Not sure they’re the “best. ever.”, but some of these Amazon reviews are pretty funny [Fast Company]

Photoshoped version of never-to-be Granite Hotel courtesy of LoopNet

 

Decatur Tourism Bureau Hires Visitor Center Manager

The city’s Linda Harris sends along this press release…

The Decatur Tourism Bureau recently hired Sherry Jackman as the Visitors Center Manager. Sherry is a Decatur resident who has been in the travel and tourism business for the past 20 years.

In 1995, Sherry co-founded Conyers Travel and grew the business from a start-up to over $1.5 million in sales within three years. She managed large corporate accounts, including a professional umpire’s league for the American Basketball League, the American Heart Association and Snapple Beverages, group tours as well as individual travelers and managed a staff of five travel agents.

While in Conyers, Sherry was active in the community, serving on the board for two non-profits. She served as Vice President of Project Renewal, a domestic violence shelter and intervention facility and Rockdale Emergency Relief, which supported families with unexpected emergencies. She chaired several fund raising activities including a golf tournament which raised over $25,000 – the largest in its history to that date.

Sherry was also an active member of the Conyers Kiwanis Club and served on their Board of Directors, the Rockdale Chamber of Commerce serving on several fund raising committees, and was nominated as Small Business Person of the Year in 2002.

Continue reading “Decatur Tourism Bureau Hires Visitor Center Manager”

With Pay-As-You-Throw Firmly in Place, Decatur Seems Primed for Composting

Now let me start off by saying that I haven’t done a lick of research into the hurdles the city would have to be overcome to actually dispose of compost accumulated from around Decatur.  Perhaps the City’s Lena Stevens will step in and set me straight on that.

But the recently released first draft of the city’s Sustainability Plan goal “Promote the Expansion of Food Composting” got me thinking, “How hard would it be to get Decaturites composting?”

After doing a bit of looking around and some sporadic noodle-scratching, I determined, “Not that hard at all!”.  And I’m not even talking about implementing the kind of militant composting prescriptions of the Pacific Northwest (San Fran, Seattle), which require composting under penalty of “liens, fines, and other fees.”   While Decaturites are often pointed to as some of the most liberal Georgia residents, most actual residents know that if you fly a bunch of us over to the piney lakes of Washington State many of us “progressives” would sound down right conservative.  (“Where’d you get that plastic grocery bag son?  Atlanta, eh??”)

Why do I have such blind and unsubstantiated faith in the potential ease of convincing Decaturites to compost?

Continue reading “With Pay-As-You-Throw Firmly in Place, Decatur Seems Primed for Composting”

Decatur’s Christmas Tree Has Arrived!

Brent sends in a couple photos of the Decatur Christmas tree arriving on the Square this morning.  It’s huge!!

Remember that the tree lighting ceremony is this Thursday at 7pm.

Avondale Launches “Month of Merry”

Sadie writes in…

Month of Merry showcases the growing number of specialty shops and restaurants in Avondale Estates, Ga. each Thursday evening, December 1 – 22, 2011. Developed to promote and encourage holiday shopping across the city’s unique small businesses, Month of Merry visitors are invited to explore and discover all participating shops along the North Avondale Road corridor.

Month of Merry offers extended hours at shops and restaurants to allow more time for folks to shop after work and to come from other areas of metro Atlanta. Most participants will be staying open until at least 9 p.m. on Thursdays through December, offering a variety of specials, open houses, discounts and refreshments to holiday shoppers.

THE KICK-OFF

Adams Apples is the place to kick-off the Month of Merry experience on Thursday, December 1, from 6-9PM. There will be complimentary shopping bags, treats from participating businesses, chances to enter for door prizes, and even a visit from Santa Claus. With its central location and readily available parking, Adams Apples is a terrific first stop for Month of Merry.

PARTICIPATING BUSINESSES

Month of Merry is proud to have among its inaugural participants a diverse representation of Avondale Estates’ small, independently owned businesses.

Continue reading “Avondale Launches “Month of Merry””