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.

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.

Read the rest of this entry »

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?