Free For All Friday 1/4/13
Decatur Metro | January 4, 2013Feel free to use this post to make comments and ask questions about local issues not discussed here over the past week.
Comments close on Monday.
Feel free to use this post to make comments and ask questions about local issues not discussed here over the past week.
Comments close on Monday.
Latest from Decaturish
Should a person in a motorized chair be using a bike lane or the sidewalk? I just saw one in the bike lane on Commerce and thought it odd.
Either seems more appropriate than the guy I saw cruising down Scott Blvd. in a motorized wheelchair against traffic during rush hour a few months ago.
Was it an older woman with an oxygen tank? I saw her this morning going down Ponce de Leon (eastbound, between Sycamore & Dekalb Industrial). I almost hit her because I of another car already in the turn lane. She seemed oblivious to the oncoming traffic, to the point where I almost called the police. I certainly hope she made it to her destination without getting hit!
Nope. It was a man I saw.
If wheelchairs have to be in the road, I sure wish they’d use warning flags, like the flags you see on recumbent bicycles and bike trailers carrying children, pets, or baggage. It is hard for drivers to see low lying vehicles especially in heavy traffic or from vehicles with high-perched driver seats. Even if the chairs are operating legally and have the right of way, it’s prudent to be as visible as possible. Ditto for runners and cyclists. Not much point to being right but dead, other than your survivors can sue for medical and funeral costs.
If the sidewalks suck, the options are few and none of them good. (It’s pretty easy for a small front wheel to get caught in a big crack, leaving the person completely stranded and helpless until somebody happens along to rescue them. I know this because I’ve been the rescuer before–the poor woman had been sitting there for a really long time.)
The sidewalk in this instance was fine; this was right outside the new public housing on Commerce.
Then I’m at a loss. I’ve seen someone in a motorized chair traveling in the street on Dekalb Industrial approaching the N. Decatur Rd intersection. There are good sidewalks there, but it made me wonder if the sidewalk is not continuous between where the person started and where he needs to go. Moving over the curb into the street when the sidewalk runs out/becomes unnavigable, then back up over the curb, doesn’t work. There are also a few people I see on Hardee, going and coming from the Edgewood shopping center. That street is tricky to start with, very narrow with on-street parking and a poorly marked all-way stop. It all makes me nervous, but also makes me think that level of anxiety might be a luxury, viewed from the perspective of the folks in the chairs.
I feel sick to my stomach today. This morning, I saw a guy cross the street WITHOUT using a crosswalk. I was so appalled, I almost had an accident during my double-take. Thanks, Mr. Jaywalker, for bringing Decatur down to the base level of DeKalb County. Decatur is supposed to be full of educated, progressive people, yet this act just proves we have a long way to go as both a society and a species. It’s a perfect example of the sort of self-destructive behavior that will eventually lead to the end of humankind, and make way for the roaches, rats and kudzu to inherit this godforsaken earth.
Yeah, happy frickin’ new year, everyone.
I hope the rest of the educated and progressive folks of Decatur don’t have the same outlook on life.
Buck up, li’l camper. All is not lost. Less than a century ago, people felt exactly the opposite…
http://m.theatlanticcities.com/commute/2012/04/invention-jaywalking/1837/
http://www.decaturmetro.com/2011/06/30/you-dont-know-jack-about-jaywalking/#more-18864
You guys realize I’m having fun, right? I figured it was evident, but maybe I should have put the requisite smiley.
Fu*k the smiley. It’s 2013. The Mayans may have been wrong but we are all going to hell in a handbasket anyway. Snark away and let the uninitiated or hyper-sensitive folks fend for themselves. And come on down to Trackside for a beer and a shot with some similarly-minded curmudgeons!
If I weren’t married, and you weren’t married, and I was gay, and you were gay, and you liked heavy metal, and I liked attorneys, I would totally ask you to marry me in a state where it was legal.
Do I need the smiley on this one?
that comment is so Decatur, it should have a city logo on it.
(Requisite smiley
DM: When is the wonderful editing function coming back? For some reason, certain errors only become evident to the author once they are posted! I don’t know why proofreading in the little comment box doesn’t take care of them all but I can attest it doesn’t. I try to remember to do the squishy thing with my thumb and index finger to enlarge the box Apple-wise and scour it for errors but most of the time that just freezes up my screen and makes me curse the day I left the World of Windows.
Can anyone recommend movers to do an easy 30 minute job? (I’ve got a heavy dresser that has to get up two flights of stairs, another that has to switch rooms). It’s just a bit too heavy to feel ok bribing college students with beer (and I’m pretty paranoid about my hardwoods).
I wish Sweet Melissa’s and/or Thumbs Up were open for dinner, with the same menu as for breakfast and lunch.
Brinner is the best meal
or brupper as we call it here
I have several old half-full paint cans I need to dispose of. Any idea on where I can take them?
If you use kitty litter or the like to help dry them out, COD will take them when they’re completely dry.
If you don’t have cats, Home Depot sells paint hardener. I think it’s $1 for a pouch of it, which is usually enough to dry out two half-full paint cans. Depending on the number of cans you have, it might be cheaper than buying cat litter.
PushPush Theater used to take old paint and use it to paint sets. Haven’t checked in a couple of years so not sure if they still do.
Given that the new brewery is coming in the PushPush space, is PushPush still a thing? If PushPush is gone, do we have a live theater company left in Decatur?
From the Push Push website:
So where are we now? The new PushPush office is still at East Decatur Station. Our new address is 114 New Street, #D3. Our studio offices are located INSIDE the yellow building, the first lot/building on the left. Suite d3 is inside the building, down the hall, the 2nd door on the left.
PushPush is producing shows in several locations (Goat Farm, Nelson Gallery, The Plaza, etc.). We are also producing performances in a temporary location on certain Wednesday nights. For a short span, these performances which include Write Club Atlanta, Syllabus, Naked City, and Ismprov will occur in the former MOCHA MATCH COFFEE BAR (The Red Room) at 627 East College Avenue – between Corner Pub and Figo Pasta. Please park in the old PushPush lot when you come to one of our shows.
Thanks. I think it’s interesting that theaters (live or otherwise) used to be a sign that a community was “prospering.” Now you don’t hear so much about that, but you do hear about microbrewing as economic development. And we are seeing this transformation actually take place in one building. I think it’s a shame that we don’t have a theater (live or otherwise) at the heart of our community – particularly given our supposed artistic bent around here. But I understand the economic difficulties of such an endeavor. A theater (live or otherwise) would qualify as a public good that I’d be willing to have my taxes support. Am I the only one?
You aren’t the only one. It boggles my mind that Decatur has no live theatre and no cinema. I’ve supported theatre all around the area. One problem is that many folks think that it’s the Alliance or nothing. Smaller — and often better! — theatres don’t get the support they need to survive.
What about Onstage Atlanta? I know it’s not in the city limits (yet) and has to move when Wal-mart comes, but it is close. We’ve seen two of their Designing Women shows (hilarious!) and a couple of other plays. It has always been a great time, and extremely affordable.
Also, the editing function comment reminded me of my favorite thing when I post. It always corrects my name to “Frenzied”.
Just checked, Onstage moved this week over by Kudzu.
Yep. Ousted by WalMart. They get tarred with the “community theatre” label, but they sometimes to exceptional work.
Still, the new site is close to Decatur.
There is great theater at Agnes Scott College and Emory University.
My guess is that Home Depot or Sherwin Williams would do it.
Can anyone recommend (or recommend avoiding) a laser eye surgeon/clinic? They don’t have to be in the Decatur area per se, just not sure I want to base any decisions involving shooting lasers at my eyeballs on the handful of reviews available on yelp.
Way back in December of 2003 I had mine done by Dr. George Waring at In View (formerly Emory Eye Care).
I believe Dr. Waring has since split off into his own practice. You can count Greg Maddux, former Atlanta Braves pitcher and future Hall Of Famer, amongst his list of patients.
http://www.trustedlasiksurgeons.com/atlanta_lasik_surgeon_george_o_waring_md_facs.htm
I’m contractually obligated to post this link:
http://advancingyourhealth.org/vision/tag/emory-vision/page/2/
Anyone know what is up with the progress on the old Decatur Diner / new Mexican restaurant? Have not seen anyone work there in a while?
Have a great weekend.
Good bye Decatur …..
Alas, after 26 years, we are moving away from Decatur. I now resign my Cranky Old Timer moniker to some other crankster. Requirements are that you must post a “Free Westchester” post at least quarterly. You must also enjoy Belgian beer from the Brick Store, and have at least a passing understanding of what “being Mrs. Kravitz” means. and live in this town longer than ten years … .thanks DM for a fabulous blog; I will be checking in from time to time to see how things are going with my favorite city …
This makes me so sad. We will miss you terribly Cranky. Good luck to you and yours.
Everyone, raise your glass with me and say it with me one last time…
Vote Cranky!!!
All this time, I thought you were someone else! Your Crankyness will be missed. Free Westchester!
Wuh, wuh, what? Cranky was a girl? Gender assignments blown to bits! And I can’t even take over the moniker because I’m the a-hole who goes to Brick Store and asks “So you really don’t have PBR yet?”
Nooooooo! BOOOO!
You will be missed. Please drop in & put the crank on us from time to time, and as DM has bid us: “Vote Cranky!”
WOW! Never thought it was you, although I did narrow your residence down to Coventry. Best of luck in your new home and thanks for “Free Westchester”
Does anyone know where I can get either:
a) a rug I already own cut down to fit a certain sized space or
b) purchase a rug to custom dimensions
Looking for something local and not too expensive.
Try Sharian. If they don’t do it, they can probably refer you to someone who does.
Sharian does it. I’ve had one done.
Not exactly local and probably not cheap, but I believe Room & Board (W. Midtown) sells rugs cut to custom specifications. Great place to get a dining table in a custom size, too.
Several years ago, I bought a carpet remnant at Home Depot, they trimmed it to my specs and bound the edges to create an area rug for an odd-sized room.
Myers Carpet (on Northside Drive) can definitely make a rug any size from their stock and likely could do something with carpet you already own.
We can do it. Sullivan Fine Rugs ~
Oakhurst residents – Buckhead shop. We’ll pick up-404-467-4044
Why do people answer when they are only guessing? ? Just annoyed at responses, here a little, and about getting rid of paint above, a lot. The answer to your question is Myers Carpet just North of Atlanta water treatment behind Ikea. Family business, they have exquisite remnants that they will cut and edge to size, or will cut and edge your clean rug. Cheers.
Apparently you didn’t read all the answers, though.
I’m going to give him credit and assume he did read all the responses. It would be silly to make that comment without doing so. He’s just annoyed that some people were stupid enough to give, in his own not-so-humble opinion, the wrong answer. Cheers.
General tip for better living: If you have a bad cold and can hardly breathe while sitting still, consider skipping yoga class instead of huffing your germs in a closed room with other people for 90 minutes, not to mention wheezing all over the blankets and bolsters that belong to the studio.
My apologies for the extended downtime today everyone. After a lot of work, we think we’ve resolved the issue for the relatively foreseeable future.
FYI that the front page of the AJC (for those few of you that still read a hard copy) has a nice piece on Mayor Floyd and the development of Decatur. There’s also a brief interview on the Patch.
There’s an interesting article about why schools located in town centers may be safer than those located in more suburban and isolated locations: http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/editorials/hc-ed-school-location-20130104,0,5751116.story. One more reason why I like our walkable, smaller neighborhood schools. Got to admit that it would hard for a young man wearing battle gear to stroll past our CSD helicopter moms unnoticed!
Peach State Opera, an artist affiliate of Georgia Perimeter College Clarkston,GA is presenting in English Puccini’s Madame Butterfly, Jan. 11 at 8pm in the Cole Auditorium . The heart-wrenching story of Puccini’s beautiful geisha girl and her American naval lieutenant never grows old. The unwavering love of the young Japanese bride as she waits for the return of her husband, the clash of cultures and faiths, and the ultimate betrayal and tragic ending inspires some of opera’s most powerful and beautiful music. Meet the Cast
Ticket prices are:
General Admission Jan 11, 2013 $22.00
Senior Admission Jan 11, 2013 $20.00
Students Jan 11, 2013 $10.00
GPC Students/Faculty Staff, Alumni Jan 11, 2013 $5.00
Groups of 10 or more Jan 11, 2013 $10.00
You can go to Peach State Opera’s website http://www.peachstateopera.org to purchase
tickets and learn more about the company.
This traveling opera company with local roots is dedicated to bringing opera to communities that might not have the opportunity to see a fully staged opera at reasonable rates. Don’t miss the opprotunity to see what should be a memorable production.