Louis writes in…

Tickets are now on sale for the 24^thannual Decatur Garden Tour.

It will be Saturday and Sunday, May 5 and 6. It features 13 public and private gardens all located throughout Decatur. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 the weekend of the tour. You can purchase tickets at Intown Ace Hardware and Seventeen Steps, or online at decaturgardentour.com

A ticket is good all weekend (Saturday, 10:00 to 5:00, Sunday noon to 5:00), with one garden open Saturday evening between 7:00 and 9:00 PM, featuring refreshments and entertainment.

All proceeds from the Tour benefit the Wylde Center, formerly the Oakhurst Community Garden Project.

According to Louis, this is the final weekend you can order tickets before prices go up.

• Decatur’s first “Little Free Library” unveiled on Wilton Drive [Patch]
• Brewhouse Cafe in Avondale now closed [Patch]
• The Story of Emory on PBS tonight [Emory]
• Mark Bittman visits Wendell Berry [NYT]
• It’s National “Poem in Your Pocket” Day! [Poets.org]

Big thanks to Michael for the last two links this morning!

At this year’s State of the City Address, you may recall Mayor Bill Floyd suggested that Decatur should alter its charter so that the mayor was elected by the city’s populace instead of being appointed by the City Commission.  But, how would the city commission go about making this change if they wanted to?

City Manager Peggy Merriss fills us in…

The City’s Charter would have to be amended by a local act of the General Assembly. Generally, the City Commission would forward a request (often through a resolution) to the DeKalb delegation who would have to introduce the legislation. Also, legislation changing the terms of office would not be effective until the next election after adoption of the amendment.

• Students react to DHS time change next year [3ten]
• Decatur Farm to School offers summer research grant to Juniors and Seniors [CSD]
• Emory to host transportation tax forum today [Patch]
• Tree falls in Piedmont Park during Dogwood Fest [Patch]
• DeKalb Police looking to move out of Dunwoody [Heneghan]
• Peachtree DeKalb Airport Open House Airshow [CHCA]

World Book Night

Sometimes when things sound too good to be true, they actually are true.

Late last year we were asked to work with an organization that was planning on giving away lots and lots of free books.  We were, to put it mildly, skeptical.  Today we have, to put it mildly, glad hearts.

World Book Night was celebrated Monday for the first time in the United States.  Begun only last year in the United Kingdom, this organization is responsible for distributing 2,500,000 free books this week.

Not just any books, mind you.  World Book Night selected 30 superb titles by writers such as Sherman Alexie, Junot Díaz, Dave Eggers, John Irving, Barbara Kingsolver, Ann Patchett, and Patti Smith.  Each of these authors agreed to forgo royalties.  The organization then got their publishers to print special editions of each book.  (For the UK and Ireland, an equally excellent, almost completely different list was used.)

Read the rest of this entry »

Time to get out the old leather awl and make a new notch in the belt, Decaturites! Daniel sent in this pic of the sign now gracing the old Maddy’s barbeque location on Scott Boulevard.

I can’t find a dang mention of it yet anywhere online!  Oh well.  I guess it’s good to be first.  But don’t you go stealing my scoop, Kessler!!  Unless you want to write an actual article about it with real facts and stuff of course. 

UPDATE!!  Here’s the press release…

ATLANTA (April 25, 2012) — Fox Brothers Restaurant Group (FBRG), who brought you Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q and Big Tex Decatur, is proud to announce the opening of a new concept they are calling Fox Bros. Rib Joint. Located in Decatur, Ga., in the old Maddy’s space, this fast-casual concept will focus on finger-licking food, quick service and a relaxed ambiance. There will be ample indoor and outdoor seating. The rib joint is set to open in summer of 2012. This is the third concept for FBRG, following Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q and Big Tex Decatur, both located in Atlanta. For more information call Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q at 404-577-4030. Fox Bros. Rib Joint is located at 1479 Scott Boulevard Decatur, Ga. 30030.

Sounds like a good time!  Rick writes in…

This past Friday-Sunday over 100 cub scouts and parents from Decatur’s Pack 175 visited Turtle Island Preserve near Boone NC. Wonderful time spent connecting with nature, living off the grid, tending livestock, blacksmithing, learning about indigenous plants and their medicinal value . . . and many other simple life lessons.

http://www.turtleislandpreserve.com/