Free-For-All Friday 2/22/13
Decatur Metro | February 22, 2013Feel free to use this post to make comments and ask questions about local issues not discussed here over the last week.
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Latest from Decaturish
Anybody know the full story of why Ebster field may not be available for spring sports? Was it in a post by CoD that I missed? I know construction is supposed to start up soon, but I don’t think I had heard that Ebster field was going to be completely off limits.
There will be storm water remediation and they will install a “huge” retaining tank under the field.
Thanks! Will it be out of use for just the spring or beyond?
I heard one year.
TGIF
Where is the nearest place to buy Mexican/real sugar Coca Cola?
Buford hwy Farmers Mkt has it. Not exactly close though.
It is about 12 minutes up there from the square, faster if you get lucky with lights. Make the trip and grab some empanadas, carne asada tacos and korean bulgogi in the new cafe area.
And, you can get as much cold Mexican Coke and Jarritos Grapefruit that you can carry.
I love the BuHi Farmers Market and the ethnic experience in there.
Another alternative is Plaza Fiesta right at Clairmont/BuHi…
Love BHFM! Have not been up there since the new cafe area opened, though. Are the cafe items for on-premises consumption only or do they have any prepared foods that can be purchased to go? I know they have (or used to) have a lot of prepared Korean dishes (kimbap, hui, banchan) in the deli area in the back on the left. Wondering if there are expanded options for take away?
Considering altering the plan for tonight’s dinner…
THC
They do still have the takeaway stuff in the back, but they also put some of that up in the cafe area.
You can also get stuff from the cafe to go that they did not have in the back – prepared Indian, Russian, etc.
My problem is that I am stuck in a loop of empandas, carne asada tacos, bulgogi, mool dumplings, crepes and sushi that I can not get sufficient exit velocity to break out of…
Awesome! Thanks! Planning to head up there for lunch, now, as well.
You’re a step ahead of me, Brad. Finally added the Korean dumplings to our standard order of empanadas and tacos last time we were there. I was a bit overwhelmed by the nice new cafeteria area so maybe I’ll have a better plan of attack to try out some other stuff the next time. I’ve got to get serious about my diet for the next few weeks but that might be the first place I splurge afterward!
Is the cafe at BHFM open for dinner? I can’t find any info about it on their website.
Ok, I called and asked, and if the person who answered the phone and I were understanding each other correctly, the cafe is open till 8.
That is probably correct. The old taco/empanada stand seemed to have irregular hours, closing when they ran out of food or when they just felt like it. With the shiny new cafe area, they’ll hopefully stick to regular hours. Whenever you go, and whatever else you get, make sure you get an empanada. Even if you don’t want an empanada, the red salsa they give you with it is great on ANYTHING!
Easy there Biggest Loser. I’m down 9 so far.
So was I. Now I’m not. I’m not eating this week. Ugh…
Four ounces of Jarritos Toronja + one shot of good tequila + juice of half a lime = one Paloma = danger. They go down like, well, Mexican soda pop. Mexican Squirt works as well, but the Jarritos grapefruit soda is generally easier to find.
Once bought a few bottles of Jarritos Toronja at a Latino market in Snellville. Clerk nodded knowingly at us gringos and purred, “Ahhhh. Tequila…”.
Had to give ‘em up when I went on Simvastatin for cholesterol. Damn.
12 minutes? Dang, you must be taking a jet over there. I love that place though. The grocery store that is currently at Plaza Fiesta is disgusting.
I’ve seen it at several of the area Krogers (I vaguely remember it being at the one N. Decatur but I’m not positive), but your timing is actually perfect. It’s almost Passover, so that means Passover Coke! (It’s made from real sugar because corn syrup is not KfP.) Look for Coke with the yellow cap – the Toco Hills Publix definitely has it and the TH Kroger probably does too.
Kroger on Dekalb Industrial has it in the International section, Oakhurst Market has it, too.
I think you can pop into Burk Fork BBQ on Church St. and buy individual bottles of “Mexican” Coke.
Don’t know about close, but you can buy it in bulk at Costco.
David’s Produce on Lavista (across from Briarlake Elementary) has them.
Usually they can be found in the International aisle at the Kroger on North Decatur. If you have your Kroger Card – 10 for $10.
Oakhurst Market carries it.
What are they doing at the “Trinity triangle” area? Where the hotel used to be? Just wondering.
Is there construction? Last I heard they had filed a new site plan with the city that didn’t need any new approvals. So all the city knew was that there seemed to be some movement by the developers but they had no idea about a timetable.
There seems to be some light grading or some such. I think I saw one piece of equipment.
I think they are just staging conduit and equipment there for the storm water construction.
Correct
This is for all the math geeks out there. Could be a great trigonometry assignment for high schoolers.
Reconstructing the Russian meteors path with Google Earth, youtube and high school math.
http://ogleearth.com/2013/02/reconstructing-the-chelyabinsk-meteors-path-with-google-earth-youtube-and-high-school-math/
The only thing I’m not clear on in the post is how he drew the paths. I can do this in SketchUp but I don’t know how to do it in Google Earth.
OK, I have a gripe. Why is it so hard for me to find someone in this city who knows how to work on cars, make home repairs, do projects, etc.? I’m not looking for someone to do these things for me; I just want to hang out with a guy who doesn’t give me a blank look when I ask him if they have a spring compressor. Or at what psi they torque a lug nut (I use 85, by the way). Or the best way to drop audio wire through the wall when installing in-wall surround sound speakers.
Is this too much to ask for? When I was growing up, pretty much all the dads (and quite a few moms) in the neighborhood knew this kind of stuff. Now just about every guy I know has no idea how to do even basic maintenance on their car or house, and I have to call my brother just to talk to someone who knows what the hell I’m talking about.
Someone please assure me I’m not alone. That there are still some guys (or gals) out there who share these interests.
An interesting question. I’d think in any urban neighborhood like Decatur (assuming you are talking about Decatur), do-it-yourselfers would not be all that common. Plus. the economic downturn has led to readily available labor for smaller projects (though that probably is only a short term situation).
As for cars, in general there is a long-term decline in shade tree mechanic work. New cars simply can’t be worked on by amateurs. And there also seems to be a long-term decline in “car culture,” as younger people aren’t as interested in cars as previous generations. And this trend, I’ve noticed, holds up even in more rural settings.
But I bet you can find plenty of people to talk with about the latest electronic gadgets.
In other words, get with the times. I used to do that stuff, (10 years of carpentry), but now I monkey around with my 3d printer and my Raspberry Pi.
It’s not that young people aren’t as interested in cars, it’s that we can’t afford them because we’re underemployed and buried in student debt.
It really grinds my gears when I read these articles saying that young folks aren’t interested in buying cars or homes. It’s not because we have different values, it’s because we’re broke! If Andrea Average College Grad has $20,000 (lower than the national average) in debt and makes $14/hour salary (as one of the lucky few in her class to find a salary job), is she going to take out a $15,000 car loan and a $100,000 mortgage? No! Beyond the irresponsibility of taking out massive amounts of debt, no lender would approve her for MORE loans!
“It really grinds my gears when I read these articles saying that young folks aren’t interested in buying cars or homes. It’s not because we have different values, it’s because we’re broke!”
I don’t doubt that money is a factor, but I have seen actual surveys of millennials that show that cars are pretty low on the priority list compared to travel, gadgets, clothes, experiences with friends, etc. Granted, all of those are cheaper than cars (except travel), so maybe they are prioritizing based on what they can actually afford rather than what they want.
Also, the decline of “car culture,” I think, is due in part to the fact that new car technology isn’t really accessible to the average tinkerer; it’s not just a matter of affordability.
You are actually making BrianC’s point. If you don’t have allot of money, previous generations would buy a beat up old car and work on it themselves to improve it as a hobby and a means to get more car for your money.
Car culture is not about buying new cars, it’s about working on the car you can afford.
Yes, that’s what I was getting at, in probably an unclear fashion. It’s the enthusiasm for cars that has waned. The folks I know in their 20s and early 30s care not a whit for cars beyond the wish that they reliably go from point A to point B. None of them own anything fancy or expensive (lots of Civics and Maza 3s) though some of them could.They’d much rather spend money on travel and gadgets.
My husband does all of that stuff – you are welcome to talk to him anytime about it as I do not understand any of it. He did all of the low voltage wiring in our house and is so proud of it. We joined the library a few years ago so he could check out the book on all of the electrical codes so he could make sure he was re-wiring something correctly. There are also a few kids in our neighborhood that do the same things.
Part of your problem is that torque is not measured in PSI. It’s measured in lb-ft.
Kidding aside, I feel your pain, but somewhat revel in it when the other guys (and women) on the block give me blank stares as I’m explaining how much money I saved on changing my own brake pads.
Agh! Good catch, Stan. That will teach me to write posts as I’m half paying attention to a conference call.
And I’m glad to see from you and other commenters that I am not alone.
As for doing the brakes, I agree 100%. It’s unbelievable how much brake places charge. So glad I do my own.
I’ll bet you didn’t even know you had a petard to be hoisted by.
Nope, not until Stan pointed out my error. But I don’t mind, I can handle it. Not the first mistake I’ve ever made, nor will it be the last.
I have had this conversation more than once with my wife. Do you remember the old Coke commercial that played at the movie theatre with the kid holding the flashlight and grabbing tools for his dad while the dad repaired various things. I remember it clearly because that was me, and I picked up a few things over the years and can fix about anything at the house (assuming I have the correct tools). Being handy has a lot to do with your upbringing. I have jokingly said that my stepsons needed a manual to use a screwdriver, and I remember recently correcting one on how to hold a hammer (he was choking up on it). They are smart kids, but they had no experience with tools until I came into the picture.
We had to take shop class in middle school (along with art & home ec). Even for people who didn’t end up doing anything with those skills, I think it’s still useful to know how to use tools, do drafting, etc. (Or bake stuff, on the home ec side.) Do kids even have the option of shop class any more?
Don’t think shop is still offered. When watching The Perks of Being a Wallflower the other night, the Mrs. and I commented on our disbelief that schools used to have table saws and allow/require students to use them. But, I could be wrong and/or it may depend on the school.
Yeah…we had table saws, band saws, lathes, belt sanders, you name it. Sometimes I shake my head in disbelief that a bunch of middle school (mostly) boys were allowed to play with those machines. And even more so that nobody got injured in doing it…
Decatur High had a woodworking shop until a few years ago. It’s gone now. Not sure about DeKalb County schools. I can assure you the private schools do not.
Ah, high school memories of art class in the dungeon area of Druid Hills next to the shop classes. The smell of freshly cut wood and belt sanders. The cheers of the students during the ill-advised Egyptian invasion of Israel that turned into the 6 Day War.
How many gears does an Egyptian tank have? 1 forward and 6 in reverse….
Shop was, I believe, a required class for boys; home ec for girls.
I am a girl and I took shop in HS in Gwinnett County back in the late 80’s. I still have the little car that I made out of a block of wood! I gave it to my son. The wheels are not perfectly round.
Actually now that I think about it, maybe shop and home ec were the same class, because I also made a pillow in that class and I do remember it being in the same classroom with all the saws and such.
Funny. My brother is a teacher in Gwinnett County, teaching the modern equivalent of Shop. Today it’s called Tech Ed. I went to visit his “shop” and the first thing that struck me was the total absence of old-skool woodworking machines. I asked him where they were and he pointed to the CAD workstations and computer guided lathe that replaced them.
Cool stuff, definitely nothing like the Shop class of yore, but I’m still unclear how modern stoner students can make a bowl out of a dowel.
I know where all the old Decatur High School shop tools are stored. Maybe somebody could liberate a shops worth and we could set up a hacker/shop space. It’s a shame that they all just sit there.
Curious as to what you thought of “Perks of Being a Wildflower.” My wife loved it. I thought it was ok, but we were at least a third of the way into before I figured out it was set in the 90s. Some of the characters seemed a bit anachronistic.
I thought it was OK, but I doubt I will watch it again. And making every effort to be vague and avoid any spoilers, I am not sure I would have quickly picked up on the big reveal towards the end of the movie if my wife hadn’t read the book and filled me it. Or, at least it wasn’t 100% clear until they tell you 5 minutes later.
Both girls and boys should be offered, if not required to take, shop (which would include some basic automechanics) and home economics. Even a non-handy person like me is glad that I was taught to replace a button, hem, sew a straight seam, patch jeans, knit, and iron. I wish I had been able to take basic shop and learn simple woodworking, painting, finishing, and minor home repair tasks;. luckily my father taught me to jump a car engine, change a tire, check the oil, replace the ??? filter (obsolete task now, I think), add antifreeze in freezing weather, add windshield wiper fluid. He might have taught me to change the oil but I chose to forget how.
You need to talk to people (likely older) who bought an old house to fix. I know how to do a lot of stuff, including copper plumbing, electrical, landscaping, and change my own tires. And I’m a girl. It’s my impression that ‘new house people’ aren’t always interested in doing these things, and can afford to hire it done. Changing out a toilet is pretty easy, but watch people’s eyes bug out when you say you did it. Good luck, there are still a lot of us here.
“Good luck, there are still a lot of us here.”
Will you marry me? Of course, Lady Books might object to that proposal.
Excellent and thoughtful responses to my original post, and I’m heartened to hear from people who still do a lot of their own maintenance, repairs and projects. I’ve learned over the years, with my old house and rapidly aging cars, that you don’t have to know how to do all this. You just need to have the courage to try it. You’ll always be surprised by what you can do.
I was also one of those kids who had to help my parents do all these things. I usually would have preferred to go play with my friends, but I’ll be darned if I didn’t somehow pick up a whole lot of skills. I plan to do the same with my children.
There are still a few of us left on the south side of town. When we bought our house in the mid-1990’s, it was quite common to hear hammers pounding and saws cutting throughout the ‘hood on Saturday afternoons. Today, most of the houses have been renovated, or more recently torn down to build McMansions. Back then, you could pick up a house in the mid-$100k range, and fix it up yourself. Things sure have changed…
I recently read a book written by a PhD who repairs motorcycles for a living, here is a related NYT article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/24/magazine/24labor-t.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
His basic premise was that trade jobs (plumbers, electricians, etc.) are among the most secure jobs in the US – they can’t be outsourced to China.
One final thought – the prolifieration of DIY videos on YouTube has saved me countless hours figuring out how to fix things.
You don’t know my husband. He can build a house from the ground up if he wanted to ( and we nearly did), do his own light auto repairs, grow his own food, plumb out a parliament building on a South Pacific island, lift very heavy things, etc etc. I am totally set and I know my family will survive the zombie apocalypse. Sorry the rest of you won’t.
My husband is a do-it-yourselfer. He is a mechanical engineer by profession and is appalled about the number of ME grads who cannot repair their own cars. Alas, too many projects and not enough time results in many unfinished projects around our house.
Perhaps when the new mayor retires we can dedicate the hoops in the Bill to him.
You think a gym basket would fit the bill?
flawless victory
“gym basket.” I like that. You must have more than one alias to get a setup that good.
This was mentioned in an offhanded kind of way in a different thread a couple of days ago. Here’s another look at it:
The Indigo Girls are playing a benefit concert for The Friends School of Atlanta on Sunday, March 10, at 4pm, on the FSA campus. There are three levels of tickets: $100 for the Front Row ;$60 for the Next 6 Rows; $40 for the Remainder of the Floor and Balcony. Tickets are selling fast! Seating for all ticket levels is first come, first served. Doors will open one hour before showtime. The link for purchasing tickets is: https://friendsschoolatlanta.ticketbud.com/indigo-girls-benefit-concert More information: Contact Nancy Bent at or 404-373-8746 x8135.
I believe the $60 and $100 tickets are gone.
Thanks! Indeed only the $40 tickets are left, but I got me some!
So. Much. Awesome.
I need a recommendation for a good pediatrician in the area.
Our children have never been sick before other than one or two colds, and now one has been diagnosed with something more serious. The nurse just handed me a paper ordering the tests with hardly an explanation whatsoever. I was so stunned that something might be wrong that I didn’t ask many questions. Afterwards, when I recovered a bit, I was stunned at the way they handled it.
Anyway, I’m looking for a doctor that does not do that. I don’t really care about insurance accepted; I just want the best.
Beth, not in our neighborhood but I think worth the drive — Piedmont Pediatrics. Most of the Docs there have unrivaled educations, grew up here in Atlanta and have deep ties to the community.
We had good experience with Children’s Medical Group in Century Center, Clairmont near I-85.
+1
I agree. We are very happy with Children’s Medical Group. I love that they have electronic records. They knew that our daughter was at Eggleston the night before even before we were able to tell them when we came in for a routine checkup.
Sorry to hear about your child. Hopefully everything will be ok.
While not close anymore due to to the idiocy of the owners of CorrectMed, Jessica Doyle is fantastic. She trained at Emory, is compassionate and attentive, and a really good person. We’re considering making the drive to Conyers to continue seeing her.
http://www.pediatrichealthcenter.com/meet-our-physicians/jessica-doyle-m-d/
We were also at Children’s Medical Group for a (brief) while and while the doctors there are very good, it felt a bit like a factory. We wanted something with a bit more personal attention, which is how we landed with Jessica.
We switched from CMG to Dr. Doyle for the same reasons. We have found that even though the drive is a bit longer, the wait in the office is shorter, so it ends up being about the same.
+3 for driving out to Conyers to see Dr Doyle – that is what my family does. I’ve heard a rumor that in the not-too-distant future we may not have to drive as far to see her.
I heard that same rumor – makes me wonder if I should switch back to her…..I really did like her. How far away is Conyers? Isn’t it off of I-20 somewhere on the road to Augusta?
Visit Conyers.
Eat, Drink, and See Mary.
I actually own this t-shirt.
Juliette Mavromatis and Debbie Pollack are excellent and both have Fifth Grade daughters in Decatur so they are vested in the community.
Isn’t Juliet Mavromatis an internist, not a pediatrician?
It is not at all close BUT I love Dr. Fleming at Peachtree Park Pediatrics over on Howell Mill. Love Love Love her. She has had to refer my daughter to a specialist, but always keeps up with what the specialist is up to. She communicates well with other doctors and with me as a parent, as well with the 2 year old : )
We’re also fans of Children’s Medical Group. Our current fave doc is Dr. Jennifer Shu (who has published several parenting books and is in the news a lot). But we’ve liked many of the CMG docs over the years. It’s true that it’s a big group and a business, but one of the doc directors is a national leader in the area of effective clinical business practices, so it’s a fairly efficient and high quality place. The various docs have different personalities and styles but they all follow best practice standards and I’ve yet to see one make a true mistake. And sometimes it’s nice to have alternatives–e.g. Saturday AM clinic for acute illnesses, lots of openings even if your physician isn’t available for an urgent visit, physicians of both sexes if you have preteens/teens of both sexes, nurse practitioners if that’s your preference, etc. The lab, the referral office, immunization services, and medical records all run smoothly.
We’re also with Dr. Shu. She’s great but the one problem is that she’s part-time and you have to book her way in advance. When we’ve needed something quickly, we’ve seen a couple of the other doctors and have always found them to be caring, professional and knowledgeable. It is definitely a big place though so I can see where that could turn some people off a bit.
We really like DeKalb Pediatrics on Winn Way. Best of luck to you.
Thank you all so much. I just found out that this condition is congenital in my husband’s family, and everyone who has it seems absolutely fine to me. In fact, one of them passed away recently at the age of 99. They are good old-fashioned WASPs who never talk about anything, so I had no idea until I brought it up.
I also would like to point out that NO ONE recommended the kids’ current pediatrician. So I’m going to comb through the recs here and pick a new, more responsive, doctor.
We have also had good experiences at Children’s Medical Group in the Century Center office park. We have seen Dr. Shu, Dr. Hutson, and Dr. King, who are all great.
I second the Piedmont Pediatrics recommendation. Dr. Koenig is great if she’s taking patients. Did I know y’all went there, Brad?
If you are the Jason I am thinking of, I don’t think we ever put 2 and 2 together. I like to talk about lug-nut psi, fixing cars, building Hackintoshes and the like — leaves little time for talking about pediatricians…
I always find it slightly bizarre when I take mini B over there — Dr Koenig was a year or two below me in Highschool here in town…
Another vote for Dr. Koenig!
While not taking place in Decatur, this is a fantastic event planned for March 2 at the Alliance Theatre. Prices include a performance for Charlotte’s Web (which those ticket prices alone equal what this event price is). Wonderful time for families. The Symphony “zoo” will be there so people can examine the instruments up close, and there should be a small petting zoo as well. There will also be many hands-on activities for the kids that are art-performance related. I am happy to answer questions, if you have any. Tickets are limited in quantity to avoid long waits in line and to encourage more interaction.
http://alliancetheatre.org/Plan-Your-Visit/Special-Events/Families-Centerstage-2013.aspx
Hope to see you there!
When I moved from The North four years ago, I expected a big cultural shift in terms of politesse, and I got it. There are a few bad manners, though, that persist, and I was wondering if maybe it’s just a Southern thing.
The two bad manners I notice most are:
1. Men wearing hats indoors.
2. People eating with their mouths open.
Thanksyerapeach.
Also:
3. Damn carpetbaggers who move here and tell us “native” (20 years!) southerners how to act.
[And you'll have to pry this hat from my cold, dead head. Or something like that.]
Men wear hats? I’ve seen baseball caps in Atlanta and that’s about it. Maybe a few ski caps too but it’s hard to doff a ski hat with any finesse.
My brother in law has a wonderful collection of hats and always wears one. Mostly the Snowy River type from Orvis. And he knows to take it off inside.
While we are on the subject, am I the only one who think it is inappropriate and/or rude to not try to be presentable at a funeral? I attended one yesterday with people in ripped jeans and muddy shoes, 50ish year old men who hadn’t shaved in 2 days, people wearing wrinkled and/or dirty clothes that were picked up off the floor that morning, etc.. I understand that not everyone owns nice suits, etc., but shouldn’t they at least make an effort to clean themselves up?
IMO, Open-mouth eating is disgusting. But I have to say I don’t see it that often among Southerners. The only people I have recently observed open-mouth eating are children (who need to be taught) and recent immigrants (who may not be culturally assimilated to American foibles).
Now to the hat thing… I believe the historic norm is no longer relevant. Norms change as cultures change. It used to be impolite if a gentleman did not offer to light a lady’s cigarette… does that still apply?
The only reason I wear a hat (usually a ball cap) is because my hair is not presentable and I don’t have the time to take a shower. Given your avatar… I appreciate this issue may not apply to you.
Really? I have been here 30 years, and now whenever I call up North to a business or some such, I have to remind myself that they are just used to talking quickly and abruptly, and are not being rude.
Whatever happened to uncover indoors?
Unless you have the cold from heckoroorey, close your mouth when you chew. Gross.
I never hear carpetbaggers without thinking of Scarlett making her way through post-war Atlanta streets full of the newly rich and greedy.
I think Al is actually encountering a bunch of Yankees.
Yes!! Exactly what I was thinking!
STILL:
Feelin’ the heartache ( </3 ) of leaving my Decatur house/home and my two dogs for a new, nearly-nomadic, apartment dwelling life changes … Hoping and praying for a LOVING new home for two sweet dogs.
Anyone know anyone who is ready to bring home two new family members?
Bear and Bowdene are brother and sister, 3.5 years old, are fixed, micro-chipped, heartworm neg, but need a vet visit to become current with Heartgard (heart worm meds), active mutts rescued when their pregnant momma was homeless; their momma looked like a hound but dad is unknown, maybe Boxer or Pitt.
Best scenario would be two adults w/o small people (kids) and as 'only dogs' (but they currently live with a cat).
Will travel to NC, SC, AL, TN, FL for the right home. Must happen ASAP.
Pics available, please email :
Ps. Am super sad. No judgements, please.
MaryAnn, my heart goes out to you. Losing a pet that you love is never easy, no matter what the circumstances. I hope that you’re able to find a wonderful home for your dogs.
When does the sidewalk smoking ban go into effect?
Oct 2012.
I’m looking for someone to put in a “french drain” along side my house. Anyone have any recommendations for who can do that kind of thing?
The Oakhurst wine crawl this evening was a lot of fun. Were you there?
I can’t remember.
I understand that one woman literally crawled to the Steinbeck’s bathroom.
Do you need special permits or anything to rent out part of your house. Like a basement apartment or in-law suite?