Melissa Forgey sends along this announcement…

DECATUR – The DeKalb History Center’s Lunch and Learn Lecture Series continues in March with a presentation by Walt Drake. “Decatur 202” is a continuation of the Decatur 101 lecture he gave to the History Center in September 2010. Walt will focus on businesses, events and politics during the period of 1950-2000. He will also present profiles of some of the leaders, merchants, educators, sports figures and general characters who made their mark on Decatur. How did Decatur get to where it is today? Drake will continue exploring that “forty year overnight miracle!”

Walt Drake is a long-time resident of Decatur, and the senior partner of McCurdy & Candler law firm in Decatur. He served two terms on the Decatur City Commission, and two terms as Mayor of Decatur in the 1970s. He was the youngest Mayor in Decatur’s history at age 30. Over the years he has been active in numerous Decatur organizations, and currently serves as a Trustee of Agnes Scott College and of Columbia Theological Seminary
He is also a Director of the Decatur Education Foundation. He lectures frequently on Decatur topics, and is working on a history of Decatur from 1900 to 1999. He is a graduate of Davidson College and of the University Of Virginia School Of Law.

Free! Bring your lunch.

Tuesday, March 19, Noon – 1:00 p.m.

Historic DeKalb Courthouse, 101 E. Court Square, Decatur GA 30030, Second Floor, Superior Courtroom

Photo Caption: The Decatur Girls’ and Boys’ High Marching Band on McDonough Street. Photo by Guy Hayes, 1947

Julie sends along this announcement about the Grand Opening of a Luci Bell, a new Decatur store in the old Melrose on Ponce space between Taqueria del Sol and 330 West Ponce.

The 8th Annual AJC Decatur Book Festival begins in a mere 5 1/2 months. Any endeavor of this size involves year-round planning and, at this particular point in time, programming is kicking into high gear. A group of people, under Program Director Philip Rafshoon, will be meeting again in the next week to discuss potential tracks and authors.

In planning for future events the discussion inevitably goes back to what has worked well in the past and why. The purpose isn’t to replicate, but to roll with the essence of what makes the festival so great.

Looking back, what are some of the highlights you have experienced at the Decatur Book Festival? — particularly the unexpected ones, like unknown authors whose works you were introduced to and loved, unusual events that clicked, author panels that surprised. Was there a keynote speaker that particularly stood out?

This Week:

Michael Sheldon, author of Young Titan: The Making of Winston Churchill, Wednesday, March 13th at 7:15pm, Decatur Library, sponsored by Georgia Center for the Book, free.

OK, I know I may be asking folks to give up their precious secrets here, but if you’re willing to share, let us know your favorite spots to work “remotely” away from your office and/or home around Decatur.  Heck, favorite place in all of the Atlanta metro if you’d like.

If you have a secret place and you don’t want to reveal it to the Decatur online world, then don’t!  Or just say “I’m not telling!”.