Month: January 2013

Decatur Old House Fair Returns for It’s 5th Year This Saturday

Decatur’s Preservation Planner Regina Brewer writes in with this announcement about this year’s Decatur Old House Fair…

Given the number of times the dear readers of DM have debated “old versus new”, this event with the theme “Something Old, Something New” should satisfy all.  It’s the Decatur Old House Fair and it’s the one event where no one will look at your strangely when you utter words like “muntin” and “corbel” in the same sentence as “energy efficiency” and “low flush toilets ”.  In fact, you will be among many people who are currently pumping out the water from their basements and are eagerly looking forward to the session on “Mastering Moisture and Water Problems” (soon to be a movie with Kevin Bacon and filmed in any neighborhood with old houses!).

Continue reading “Decatur Old House Fair Returns for It’s 5th Year This Saturday”

Mingei World Arts Will Be Leaving Church Street Location, But Isn’t Going Away

Ann and Ellen at Mingei World Arts sent along this message late yesterday, which was subsequently sent out in their newsletter…

Dear Mingei Friends–

It is with great excitement and a bit of nostalgia that we announce that Mingei is changing. We are not going away but will be morphing into a different kind of business, one with a greater online presence, occasional and pop-up sales, and who knows what else? Our new Mingei will allow us to travel more, stay longer, and spend more time developing special products with our artisans. We will have the flexibility to head over to that faraway market, to return to that village and pick up an order, or to set down for a month someplace if we like to get a better feel for the work being done there.

Decatur has been wonderful to us, and we have loved being a part of the day-to-day business community there. We have made so many friends at the store and have loved sharing your stories and your lives as you have shopped with us for just the right gift, rewarded yourself with a special treat, or just come in for a visit and a browse. While we will not be physically behind the red lacquer door in that saffron- colored storefront, we will be around! Watch for more specifics in the months to come. We don’t want to lose you!

Our store on Church Street will be open for some more months. However, there are some exciting possibilities in the offing for that space. Watch for news! In the meantime, we will be open and doing business as usual. Come by and share a hug and a laugh. We’ll let you shop, too!

Ann and Ellen

Mingei World Arts

All the best Ann and Ellen!  The Decatur brick-and-mortar business landscape really won’t be the same without you!!

Rain, Rain…

Wow, it is terrible outside.  Here’s a post to discuss road conditions, closings, etc.  CSD sent out this note a short time ago…

All after school activities, sports games and practices, tutorials, clubs, and PTA meetings are canceled today, Wednesday, January 30 due to the severe weather watch. City of Decatur’s Animal Crackers, Whiz Kids and Project REAL after school care is still operating as usual. Buses may be delayed, but plan to run as usual. If severe weather hits during dismissal, we will follow our safety plan and delay dismissing students.

It’s Literally Wednesday: Award Season for Kids’ Books

  

The Little Awards were announced last Thursday, and the American Library Association announced their prestigious awards on Monday, including the Caldecott (to an illustrator for the most distinguished American picture book) and Newbery (to an author of the most distinguished contribution to American children’s literature) Medals. Many of the winners have been to Decatur during the past year.

Sheila Turnage, who was here in September for the Decatur Book Festival, won a Newbery Honor for Three Times Lucky. In addition, Sheila visited students at the 4/5 Academy for a Friday school visit. Similarly, Peter Brown, who won a Caldecott Honor for illustrating Creepy Carrots!, visited Clairemont and Glennwood and made a DBF stage appearance.  Thanks to the Decatur Education Foundation for making the Friday school visits possible. It is the single most inspiring part of the Decatur Book Festival!

Mac Barnett, author of Extra Yarn (also a Caldecott Honor winner) and Chloe and the Lion (a Little Honor winner) made two trips to Decatur in 2012; he had visited College Heights and Little Shop of Stories in April — I fictitiously killed Mac following his appearance, causing a stir when some people didn’t get my humor and thought him truly dead — and again for DBF. [Extra Yarn was illustrated by Jon Klassen, who also won the Caldecott Medal for This is Not My Hat.]

John Green won a Little Award for The Fault in Our Stars, which also won an Odyssey Award for Best Audiobook. He appeared with brother Hank at an SRO performance at Agnes Scott College last January courtesy of Little Shop. The Greens (aka the VlogBrothers) sold out Carnegie Hall two weeks ago.

Christopher Healy won a Little Honor for The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom, and had been at Little Shop last May. Adam Gidwitz won a Little Honor for In a Glass Grimmly, and was also named Most Engaging Author. He was here in October.

Continue reading “It’s Literally Wednesday: Award Season for Kids’ Books”

What’s the Best Coffee in Decatur/Atlanta?

Cut through the hype! …as they say.

What’s the best coffee in the Atlanta/Decatur area?

Here’s a generic picture of a cup of coffee (via Flickr) to get you going.  Can’t you smell the generic aromas?

CSD Registration Starts This Saturday

Kids getting older?  Feeling like they could use some good old-fashioned educating?  Then enroll them in City Schools of Decatur!

Heather sends along all the info you need to register your young ‘uns at City Schools of Decatur for the upcoming school year…

Registration Hours
 
Registration for the 2013-2014 school year occurs at the Central Office at Westchester, Monday through Friday, 8:00 -11:30 AM beginning on February 4, 2013. Additionally, we will open the CSD 2013-2014 registration process on Saturday, February 2, 2013 from 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM at the Central Offices at Westchester, 758 Scott Boulevard. We encourage families to avail themselves of our extended hours on February 2 if at all possible!
 
Please note: Families whose children are currently enrolled in CSD do not need to register at Westchester.  Registration is for children NEW to City Schools of Decatur.
City Schools of Decatur Registration Website
What can I do to be prepared?