This makes me sad.  From the Oakhurst Message Board…

To all our Friends,

Hurry!! Our Factory Store in Decatur, GA will only be open for a short period of time. Every Friday & Saturday through May 5, 2012 we will be open from 9:00 AM until 4:00 PM.

Paddywax is relocating to Tennessee and would like to invite you to our Closeout Sale. All items will be listed at closeout price.

We would like to thank you for your support.

Best of luck to the Paddywax folks.  A great local success story!

Michael points out this new post on Bill Addison’s Atlanta Magazine blog…

Ten days ago Decatur Metro first reported the brown paper covering the windows of the former Cakes & Ale space that revealed the name (and Twitter handle) of its new tenant: Pinewood. And last night Brad Kaplan tweeted that Julia LeRoy will be consulting chef.

Here’s some more info: Its full name is Pinewood Tippling Room, so expect as much emphasis on drink as on food. T. Fable Jeon, who has worked as several bars around town and was most recently associated with the Lawrence, will head the gastropub’s bar program. And LeRoy will be devising a list of updated Southern classics, including a riff on fried bologna sandwiches. Still no exact timing on the opening (is there ever, really?), but expect a launch late spring. Take a gander at the full press release below. H/T to Ms. Besha Rodell for the info…

Read the full press release over at Addison’s site.

From the in-the-know Tomorrow’s News Today…

West Egg Cafe, which first opened on the Westside in 2004 and moved to its current home, (a few feet away) also within White Provision in 2010, is finally branching out. West Egg founders Ben & Jennifer Johnson will open a second eatery later this fall in Emory Point on Clifton Road near Emory University. Though a name has not been confirmed for the new eatery, I’m told “East Egg” has at least been mentioned. I’m told the new eatery will not be exactly the same as West Egg and will likely offer a number of bagels and a larger assortment of breakfast beverages.

Q & A with Amber Dermont

Author Amber Dermont, a professor of English at Agnes Scott College, will be giving a reading at Eagle Eye Book Shop (2076 N. Decatur Rd.) this Saturday, March 31st, at 1 p.m.

The Starboard Sea was published a few weeks ago to critical acclaim in the Little Blog of Stories, received not one, but two rave reviews in The New York Times, a Washington Post review comparing it favorably to The Great Gatsby, and to The Catcher in the Rye and A Separate Peace by the Winnipeg Free Press.  It quickly found a place on the New York Times Best Sellers list.  This is a stunning achievement for a debut novel.  We’re incredibly fortunate to have such an amazing new talent right here in Decatur.

The Atlantic Ocean plays a major — and mostly dark — role in The Starboard Sea.  I understand that you grew up on Cape Cod, but was curious as to your relationship with the ocean?

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• Decatur Easter Egg “Hunt” March 31st on First Baptist lawn [Decatur Minute]
• Avondale thinking about allowing golf carts again [Patch]
• Atlanta transportation committee to hear Lake Claire traffic controversy [Patch]
• DeKalb “not ready” to lose approx. $27 million w/ a city of Brookhaven [AJC]
• Photo – The dream of the 1890s was alive in the Ride to the Capitol [Patch]
• Can a 100% private rail line turn a profit?  A new Orlando to South FL route [Streetsblog]

Map courtesy of All Aboard Florida

DM Exclusive: In tonight’s State of the City Address, Decatur Mayor Bill Floyd will call on Decatur residents to support changing the way the city elects it’s mayor, from one who is currently elected by his/her fellow commissioners to one who is popularly elected by the city’s voters.

Mayor Floyd sent along this snippet from the speech he will give tonight at 6pm at the Decatur Courtyard By Marriott Conference Center, which gives some insight into his call for the change…

The municipal landscape in DeKalb County is changing. In recent years we have added the City of Dunwoody and Chamblee has annexed a large area north of their old city limits to meet up with Dunwoody. There is legislation pending which calls for a referendum for the annexation of another large area south of Chamblee stretching south to I 85, and also legislation is pending to allow the Brookhaven residents (from Fulton county line east to Dunwoody and Chamblee and south to I 85) to vote this summer on becoming DeKalb’s newest city. I expect both of those to pass and the voters to approve them. Legislation is awaiting the Governor’s signature to annex into Decatur and Avondale Estates the unincorporated area that exist now between the two cities. Decatur could go, in just a few short years from DeKalb’s largest city to its 4th largest.

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E Howard and N McDonough, Decatur GA (pic courtesy of Shivani)