Free-For-All Friday 5/31/13
Decatur Metro | May 31, 2013 | 7:55 amFeel 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.
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i’m picking out a thermos for you,
not an ordinary thermos for you . . .
Don’t be a Jerk.
Everyone, please drive the way you want your teenaged children to drive, especially with cell phone put away.
In particular, to the woman in the white Volvo(?) SUV who ran the stop sign at E. Lake/2nd early yesterday afternoon: hang up the phone, put it away, and pay attention to your driving. Otherwise you are likely to hurt someone seriously, and you look like a dingbat.
I’m wondering if it’s time for some kind of engineering controls, e.g. cell phone use and texting inabled in moving vehicles. Is this possible to engineer? Yesterday, as I was bored and creeping from work to kid pickup then home, I decided to look in the all the car windows that I could. I wasn’t shocked to see folks on phones or texting, but shocked at how high the proportion was–over half at the particular moments in time that I viewed drivers. I’m worried that this is the new speeding, new drinking and driving, the latest risk on the road that is so dangerous and so out of control that only an engineering intervention will address it. Enforcement will not work as well as for speeding or DUI because it’s harder to detect and prove. Folks can say that they weren’t using the phone, just holding it.
AT&T has an app now that will disable your phone if you’re in a car. (You have the opportunity to tell it you’re a passenger to override.) You can set emergency numbers that will ring through to your phone, but otherwise, it will send everything to voicemail and won’t let you text.
The (free for AT&T subscribers) app is called AT&T DriveMode. If your car is going 25+ mph, it automatically sends a reply to incoming texts. You can choose what message you want to send back.
AT&T takes driving safety very seriously. Executive management pushes hard on “It Can Wait,” and employees are encouraged to act as ambassadors for the program. Please go to YouTube and search for Don’t Text While Driving. Show it to every driver you know, new or experienced; it’s less than 9 minutes long, but its effect sticks around much longer.
Is talking on the phone more distracting than fiddling with the car radio? (Note that back in the day, people pretty much freaked out about car radios and wanted to ban them.) Adjusting the AC? Eating a Big Mac? Drinking a coffee from your thermos on the way to work? Digging through a fast food bag for french fries? Applying makeup?
i’m getting a kick out of reading and responding to these comments as i’m on I-285 driving a busload of seniors to a day outing right now.
I can’t pull the research now in my sleep-deprived state, but studies have shown that talking on the phone IS more distracting than the things you’ve mentioned… And more so than talking to your passengers. If I remember correctly, conversation with a person you can’t see engages a different part of the brain – creating a mental image of the person on the other end of the phone – that uses more of the mental facilities you need for driving. Or I could be making that up. But I’m pretty sure that having a newborn is even more dangerous (but that’s just based on personal experience).
There is nothing like the mind-numbing sleep deprivation and physical exhaustion of the newborn period. Don’t drive at all except if needed to lull the little one to sleep. The cultures that let newborn mothers stay at home for months and be waited on hand and foot have it right. Nursing every 2 hours, changing, bathing,and soothing baby, keeping household together, and hosting relatives wanted or not, and wondering if you’ll ever regain your mind and former life, is about as much as the human brain can take. (Hint: Birth announcements are optional even if you already ordered them. The folks you really care about know you have a baby and understand. I still have stacks to send out, years later.)
I have to admit that sleep deprivation ranks up there with speeding, DUI, and texting while driving. Sleep-deprived transportation workers, jet-lagged folks, all-nighter veterans, medical residents, and newborn parents all need tobe allowed to rest before they drive. There’s a reason that pilot schedules include layovers and sleep.
Is texting–i.e. looking down at a dimly lit screen to type in letters/numbers (new screen)/other characters (another screen) with one finger–more dangerous than:
Adjusting the AC? YES
Eating a Big Mac? YES
Drinking a coffee from your thermos on the way to work? YES, except for twisting off the top which takes two hands
Digging through a fast food bag for french fries? YES, if the digging is done by touch–fries vs. nuggets vs. ketchup packet are pretty easy to distinguish by touch without looking
Applying makeup? NO, about the same–you have to look somewhere other than the road
The problem with texting or dialing is that you cannot do it without removing your eyes from the road and taking one or both hands off the steering wheel. (When my son asked me why at least one hand has to be on the steering wheel even when stopped at a light, I explained that it’s so, when you’re hit from behind, you can control whether you crash into a concrete post or a dirt yard.)
My grandfather would never buy a radio a car, back in the days when radios were optional. A radio is distracting but it has some safety value in terms of keeping drivers awake, although only if you actively sing along with the music.
Well, my favorite remains the young woman who passed me on 400 some years ago, early AM rush hour between Buckhead Loop and toll plaza. She was talking on a cell phone cradled against her shoulder, guiding the steering wheel with two fingers of left hand (which also held a cup of coffee) and right wrist (while holding a PDA in right hand and working the keyboard with her thumb). She was driving in the left outside lane, failing to hold her lane and going fast then slow then fast. I moved over another lane to the right and got as far away as I could.
Yes, there are all kinds of things to do while driving that distract one’s attention. People have been unfolding big maps, shaving, putting on mascara, refereeing backseat melees, fiddling with music, dropping lit cigarettes in their laps since whenever. The guy who ran over Stephen King and crippled him for life several years ago was reaching into the backseat trying to keep his dog from meddling in an ice chest that contained fresh groceries. There’s no accounting for people being stupid and irresponsible, either for a rare but critical instant or on a more or less continual basis.
Then there are things nobody can control or predict: a deer bounding in front of you, a wheel coming off another vehicle and taking 10-15 foot high bounces as it careens across 8-10 lanes (as I witnessed on I-85 one day), a semi having a blowout or a kid chasing a ball into the street. You can’t convince me we aren’t all better off if everybody who is driving a vehicle makes it a practice to pay attention to what they’re doing and resist unnecessary distractions. The woman I saw run the stop sign yesterday did not hit anybody but she easily could have–there is quite a bit of pedestrian traffic in the vicinity (next to the dog park, a few hundred yards from a MARTA station, surrounding neighborhood full of kids who are now old enough to be walking & biking about on their own). And I’d bet money if she hadn’t been yakking on the phone, she’d have been a lot less likely to run that stop.
I have seen people reading the paper while driving on the interstate. Numerous times. Scary stuff.
I would be very surprised if we don’t already have the technological capability to disable cellular service while engines are engaged, for instance. But people would never stand for that kind of equipment being mandatory. We have to remember that among our most cherished individual liberties is the right to wreak mayhem and misery as we see fit. All the contrivances in the world won’t help if people are not willing to exercise personal restraint and reasonable judgement.
My latest idea is to eliminate automatic transmission in private vehicles. While recently driving a loaner with automatic transmission for a few days, I became reacquainted with how boring and unengaging it is to drive without shifting gears. No wonder people are so easily distracted by their cell phones, not to mention the visual displays now ubiquitous on dashboards. The manufacturers are going to continue to develop and sell us things that are profitable for them. I’m not saying all this technology and integration doesn’t bring enhancements to safety and convenience, but there’s a dark, dark side, too. (Talking here specifically about the tech in private motor vehicles.) Instead of coasting along the path of least resistance (engage and play with whatever they stick in front of us), we need to make sure we’re driving our cars and not vice versa.
OK, that should do it for this week’s judge-and-preach compulsion. Happy Friday, everybody!
Actually, once we get to the point where our cars are driving us and not vice versa, your primary complaint will be moot.
We were promised jetpacks.
I don’t talk or text when I drive, but I do use the GPS. I lack all sense of direction, and the Atlanta area is one of the worst places to drive for someone like me. I am capable of advanced calculus but not finding my way of of a large suburban neighborhood.
I make a practice to only type in an address when I’m pulled over or at a light, but others might not be so careful. Once the phone is reading the directions to me, I don’t glance at it, but some of those people you saw might have been consulting directions. It isn’t perfect, but it has to be less distracting that a huge map or clumsy road atlas.
I don’t always text when I drive, but when I do, I prefer . . .
Thank you, Eagle Eye Book Shop, for hosting John Scalzi, author of the “Old Man’s War” series, last night. It was a very enjoyable evening with an engaging author who clearly appreciates his readers.
Any recommendations for local (metro Atlanta) woodworkers/furniture designers/builders? I have a relatively large, old French cherry farm table (possibly an antique, possibly not) that I would like to have completely redone. And by redone, I mean disassembled, stripped, refinished, and possibly modified (cut down to a more manageable size with one or two removable leaves).
Zach Consorti is a very talented woodworker that makes furniture and cabinets. He is detail oriented and does high quality work. Really nice guy, too.
Consorti Custom Concepts
2850 Franklin Street
Avondale Estates, Ga 30002
p 404 433 3320
http://www.consorticustom.com
Scott Dilley – http://www.dilleybrand.com/
He custom made some bedroom furniture for us to coordinate something we had purchased from Room & Board. I keep trying to figure out what other pieces I can have him make – he does an incredible job. Lived in Decatur for a while – he will come pick up/deliver. All around nice guy too.
My comment is stuck in moderation since I posted a website, but look up Scott Dilley – he lives in Monroe now, but lived in Decatur for a while and will pick up/drop off furniture. Great guy and did a fantastic job with some furniture for us.
Thanks Sarah and Nubbs. Both options look promising.
Repeat feature idea: Eye on the Sandwich, featuring DM community sandwich creations.
Great idea. We’d never have anything to contribute. Nutella on a tortilla looks yucky. But I’d love to see everybody else’s sandwiches.
I got some really good ideas from that post which I absolutely will try out. Love the roasted cherry tomatoes, and goat cheese mentions, seems so obvious but we haven’t really explored sandwich options fully for some reason. Unfortunately, I’m not artist when it come to food prep so my pics would definitely be slightly sloppy. But I have a little weekend sandwich grocery list ready to go. Thanks DM!
You’re welcome. On a related note, why is it that the two most posted types of pics on social media are kids and food? I’m not complaining, just wondering what the relationship is there.
Is it just the stuff we most likely chat about in casual settings translated into pictorial form?
I guess it’s a bit tougher to take pictures of the weather.
Whatever it is, I think it is also a window into why the “kids in restaurants” debate is always so heated. “Hey, will you stop taking pictures of your kids cartwheeling inside and assert some control?! I’m trying to take a picture of my Vichyssoise here!”
Passions collide!
I take pics tons of pics of my dude’s food creations because they can be quite beautiful, I try not to take too many of myself because I think it’s slightly obnoxious, but I’ve read the younger generations can have thousands of pics solely of themselves on FB. Why?????
I’m not super into food pics in general, but waaaaaayyyy into “house porn” sites and blogs. I could sit perfectly happy with a cup of coffee perusing Houzz for hours on end, one of my top favs, only second to this website of course
These are the things we have made.
Maybe this has already been addressed here, but does anybody know what is going on in the back of Winonna Park, between the playgrounds? There is a crew building a framework and leveling dirt.
I know they are getting a new basketball court…don’t know if that is what you saw, though.
And it looks horrible. Terrible placement. Why couldn’t they just level and resurface the old one? The new placement takes up about 1/4 of the field. There was absolutely no need for a new location. I don’t know who approved this, but it makes no sense to me whatsoever.
This was recently posted on the Winnona Park Neighborhood Listserv.
Dear Neighbors,
I am happy to announce that work on the new basketball court began yesterday (5/30/13) and should be completed some time next week. After the court is completed, the old court will be torn up and covered with fresh sod.
The location of the new court was determined with input from Decatur City engineers. We were unable to place it where the existing court is located because of its close proximity to the stream. The new location is as close as we could get it to that corner of the field.
The genesis of new basketball court came from input from community members via the WP Campus Survey we launched over a year ago. Neighbors, teachers and parents of WP children responded overwhelmingly that the old basketball court needed to be replaced. With generous support from the WP PTA and the CSD maintenance department, this vision is becoming a reality.
Thank You.
Greg Wiseman
Principal, Winnona Park Elementary School
Thanks for the info on placement. But I definitely didn’t get a survey that asked for my opinion within the last year, let alone three.
I think it is a bad decision. If they needed an alternative, they should have put it where the “parking” is. That’s what that space was originally anyway – two basketball courts. OR put goals up underneath the pavilion. That’s an easy solution that doesn’t require more concrete to be poured over a perfectly good field.
Breaking up the park with a basketball court that probably won’t get used is ridiculous. Seriously, there was nothing wrong with it for the past 60 something years (or longer) so why change it? Are the elementary school kids really going to use it? If it’s for the community, there’s a perfectly good outside court at Glenlake Park.
Responses to your comments/questions:
“But I definitely didn’t get a survey that asked for my opinion within the last year, let alone three.” – I’m in Winnona Park, and I got them.
“If they needed an alternative, they should have put it where the “parking” is.” – That parking area is very useful and keeps cars from lining the streets all day long.
“OR put goals up underneath the pavilion.” – Nope. The concrete is much too slick, expecially when wet. And it limits the use of the pavilion when a BB game is in progress.
“…a basketball court that probably won’t get used is ridiculous.” – How do you know this? Are you sure? Based upon the response from the survey you supposedly didn’t get, if you build it, they will come.
“Seriously, there was nothing wrong with it for the past 60 something years (or longer) so why change it?” – Because the current one is cracked and uneven, making it unsafe and unusable. Not all change is bad.
“If it’s for the community, there’s a perfectly good outside court at Glenlake Park.” – My kids are old enough to walk or ride their bikes to WP. Glenlake is way too far, and will be for years to come.
Thanks for your point by point refutation, minus the thoughts on tearing up perfectly good green space for another piece of cement.
And I didn’t “supposedly not get” the survey, I didn’t get it.
Sure thing. Glad to help.
Is cement programmed for recreation necessarily inferior to “green space”? I get the argument as it relates to car storage but kids playing? That’s like an investment in human habitat.
I just think there were better alternatives with existing spaces that are in the corners and on the periphery of the field.
The parking argument doesn’t hold up to me. That little “lot” can fit at most twenty or so cars, if that. Get rid of it and put the new basketball court on top of it. Plus I’m getting sick of seeing cars actually on the grass.
I wish our community would stop being so passionate about parking spaces and start walking or carpooling.
And to answer your question, I want nothing more than to see kids playing outside. I’m not upset about providing the kids with another option, but I am upset at the conclusion that was reached by whatever planning committee made the decision to stick a blacktop smack dab in the middle, albeit along the sides, of the field.
The placement takes away the number of field space for soccer games, ultimate, etc.
I believe they are working on the new basketball court that will replace the current one by the creek. Will be a much better court once it’s all done.
Anyone know of an electronic recycling event coming up?
I think Best Buy does recycling all the time now. And for free.
Thank you!
Funny you ask…
Are you into recycling? Open Arms Rescue, which is part of The Pet Retreat (wonderful Race sponsor in 2012), is holding an electronics recycling day, Saturday, June 8th, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 3516 Lawrenceville Highway in Tucker. You can drop off old computers, monitors, etc. and Ecycle will recycle them – destroying all data and disposing of the materials in accordance with all environmental policies. You will receive a Certificate of Cata Destruction for your computers. The cost if $10 per car with funds donated to the rescue, and $10 per monitor or TV (not consoles or projections) Pick ups can be scheduled by calling 770-414-7275. Help our Race sponsor, help the animal rescue and help the environment.
Does electronic recycling mean I can finally just throw my trash the computer rather than put it in a bin?
“…throw my trash AT the computer,” that is.
Yes, but you have to sort it and wash it first.
If I attach junk mail to a defective GPS does that mean that flyers will never again find me?
Is there a law against skateboarding on the square? If not, I’d be an advocate for one! It seems to be more common that I’m dodging kids on skateboards rather than enjoying strolls through downtown.
It is against the law to skateboard or ride a bike on the square. Also cannot skateboard on most adjacent streets/sidewalks. The exact one are called out in a City Ordinance.
Yes, there is a “Pedestrian Preference Zone” the boundaries of which are (roughly) Commerce Drive to the north, west, and east, and the high school to the south. My son uses a skateboard to get around town quite a bit, and when he first started riding, we looked up the ordinance. I see people on skateboards inside the “zone” all the time, though.
Has anyone eaten at Hola! yet? I am curious if the food is any better than their patio environment. Those multi-colored chairs remind me of the old children’s food court at North Dekalb Mall.
Ate at Hola! on Monday late afternoon. Patio was nicely shaded and the color of the chairs did not effect the food. Tacos were decent. Better than standard “Mexican”, but not gourmet. They did let us split the taco plate into different types. Not just three of one kind. Although I think they charged an extra $1 for the privilege.
Service was good, while a little unorganized. Probably will improve with experience.
Texas Margarita tasted fine. I prefer sweet over sour, and it was not “full of pucker”.
I would recommend giving it a try. A decent change of pace if you’ve been to Raging Burrito too many times lately.
Mrs J_T’s response: Good, but still prefers Matador and El Vecino for her “cheese dip Mexican type food”.
Mrs J_T’s mom’s response: “The beer’s cold. Who the hell cares about the food?”*
My response: Decent, but prefer the tacos and empanadas across the street at Calle Latina. Though I must admit that I enjoyed being able to order three different tacos , even if the Mrs did cringe when I first asked about it
My response #2: I love the colors on the patio!
All in all, we will likely try it again when they’ve had a chance to get their service kinks worked out (yep, still a bit of a problem but it’s hard to get mad at the kids who seem to be trying and it’s nice to see a local place giving them the experience).
*I swear, that was a direct quote.
El Matador is the Mylie Cyrus of Decatur Mexican food for me–bland and entirely unremarkable, yet people like it/her. That said, they do have decent Margaritas and the staff is nice, but Mescalito’s food is so superior I never give Matador a second thought.
I think we’ve been banned from Mezcalito’s. At the least, Mrs. J_T refuses to return after a strange incident with a server and manager there. I assume they just don’t cotton to us Decatur Northies.
there is a bit of the Jets vs the Sharks between you northies and our scrappy gang south of the tracks. i can only imagine you strode in all fancy boy like, and bruised feelings by complaining how “all you southies talk funny and move too slowly”
you’re lucky you escaped with only a banning
Shut up Rick. You have no idea of the hardship on our side of town. Have you not heard that they’re building a Wal-damn-Mart right next to us?!? We woulda been better off staying in the ‘Khurst…
serves you right for trying to move above your station!
should you choose, you can submit a hardship application for readmission to The Land of Milk and Honey, and we will give you the consideration you deserve, but, based on the attitude i’m seeing here, you’re demonstrating little to recommend you back into the fold.
suffa sucka!
You see attitude? All I see is a pot. Or are you the kettle?!?
Mezcalito’s is probably the most underrated restaurant in Decatur.
Which by the way would be a good feature for DM – what’s the most underrated restaurant in Decatur? Steinbecks also has to be in the conversation.
agree Mezcalito’s doesn’t get half the love it deserves, and yes, Steinbeck’s has picked up their food game considerably in the last couple of years, and is an easy choice for good vittles here in the O.
until they cut back on their portions late last year, I would have put Mac McGees in the same +1 but underrated category. smaller portions cost them a value play in my book, but the food’s still better than your average bar fare.
This response kind of goes against the spirit of what you are asking, but I think the most underrated restaurant in Decatur is Brick Store Pub. Yeah, I know it’s crazy popular, but for the beer, not the food. The food is a damn good value though.
Probably not underrated but more likely unrecognized: Las Brasas.
ate Las Brasas for the first time last week–it really doesn’t get in any more hole in the wallier that they are. good food at very good prices, and when i called to let them know they didn’t pack my corns on the cob once i got home with my to go order, they quickly delivered them to my house and refused a tip,
Las Brasas is the bomb! Never can believe that everyone within a 10 mile radius doesn’t realize what a great option it is. Got food from there last night. We get food from there at least once a month, more often if I’m going past it.
Thirded for Las Brasas!
Had them cater my daughters 3-yr old birthday party and it was a hit with kiddos and parents!
Tried it Saturday with the family during the Arts Festival and we were very pleasantly surprised. The food was yummy, the margaritas were cold, and the massive umbrellas made the patio nice and shady. Granted, the weather was spectacular and the festival was awesome so the experience could have been affected by those variables. But we will definitely be back . The multicolored chairs were an added benefit as my 3 year old was able to sit in her favorite color chair (pink, of course). The service was a tad slow, but the servers were friendly and helpful (even made something off menu for my picky 6 year old). We were informed, without prompting, that the tacos could be mixed and matched and I don’t think we were charged extra, but I’m not certain. I mentioned the margaritas, right?
Went there Wednesday night with some friends. All women, all over 40. (This will matter later.)
The food was generally ok, and the duck flatbread was exceptional. Service was friendly but uncertain. LOVED the cheerful patio.
BUT. Despite the table full of women drinking Margaritas, the staff decided to mop the floor right in front of the women’s restroom. And then they stood there, looking puzzled when a couple of us asked if we could walk across the wet floor. (The other option: Wet the floor ourselves.) They let us pass, but didn’t move. We had to exit the side door to get back to our table. It was actually a bit amusing. Blocking the restrooms may be one way to clear out the restaurant quickly!
I give it a provisional thumbs up.
We went on Day 3 post-opening, I think, and I don’t know that we’ll be back. The food was fine. The margaritas were….limeade, I think. I’m pretty sure I was actually more sober when I finished mine than when I started. If you’re unlikely to be heartbroken over a mild margarita, I’d say try it.
We thought the food as Hola was great and very reasonably priced. Enjoyed the tacos, the salsa and especially the fresh, chucky guacamole. I did not love the margarita I had, but I probably ordered the wrong type for my taste. The service was laughably inexperienced, but they were nice and seemed to be trying hard. I much prefer the tacos here to the tacos at Raging, though I love Raging’s burrito bowl. All in all, glad to have another inexpensive, walkable Mexican option in town.
One of the many great things about decatur is its walkability. Too bad many homeowners don’t respect their fellow citizens enough to trim there overgrown plants so that it does not impede sidewalk traffic. Does anyone know the rules on this, who to complain to, etc?
I’m pretty sure it’s a matter for Codes Enforcement. But if you call the City Manager’s office and tell them what you need, the person answering the phone will refer you to the appropriate department.
Just carry around some shears. Nobody will mess with you. And you can cut your way through the overgrown mess.
Good idea. I will also grumble and angrily shake my fist at the house. That should shame them into compliance.
I’ve put in a few tickets through the CoD website ticket system. Sometimes they tackle it right away and sometimes I have to pester the City about my ticket. Although in general I feel the City should hold the homeowner responsible, at least the problem gets addressed by someone.
Any recommendations for a good physical therapist in the Decatur/Atlanta area? Having some issues with muscle pain my lower back and would appreciate a referral. Thanks!
Andy Anderson at Decatur Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine is about the best anywhere. Good luck!
Andy is great – just finished up my last rehab session with him today after knee surgery. His two-man practice is well-organized, staff is helpful. Office isn’t flashy, but has everything necessary in the way of equipment. He usually shuttles back and for the between two clients at once or a client and other tasks in the office – boundless energy – but you feel like you always have his attention. He seems to work well with both over achievers who push themselves too hard and people who need a little shove to do their homework exercises.
http://decaturphysicaltherapyandsportsmedicine.com
Steve Kraus of Physiotherapy Associates on Lenox Rd. is nothing short of a demi-god. He has fixed a problem of mine that has plagued me for over three years and for which I consulted countless doctors before giving up on a diagnosis and deciding to give physical therapy a try. I know it’s a haul from here, and over the last 2-3 months has been about the only reason I’ve left Decatur, but it has been soooo worth it. Good luck on your issue!
PS–he practices dry needling, which would have made me laugh had someone described it to me before I had it done but has absolutely fixed my problem, which turned out to be muscular.
What’s the purpose of that huge curb put in not long ago at Pattillo Way and Howard, over the sewer thing?
Hi DL!
I think I’ve had it with Chat-stain. Not only were Hall & Oates completely underwhelming last night, the crowd noise when they played two songs from Abandoned Luncheonette drove me completely bats***crazy, and it wasn’t much better when they played the 80’s hits. I’d prefer it if Chastain would drop the BYOB permission. Perhaps people wouldn’t get completely s***faced and would actually show some respect for the performers they’ve overpaid to see.
Saw Bonnie Raitt there back in early ’90s after idolizing her for 15+ years at that point. She could hardly sing because the place was so smoke-filled, she actually asked people to chill with the cigarettes (to no avail, of course). And the truly disappointing and disgusting thing was that John Prine, another longtime favorite, opened for her and even from our good center seats, we could hardly hear him over the conversational roar. I think I went back there once after that, to see the Temps & the Tops, but have never thought it worthwhile since.
Through an unusual set of circumstances I spent a day with Rosannne Cash and her husband John Leventhal before their Spoleto Festival concert at the Cistern at the College of Charleston. I think it was 1993. We were walking from dinner to the venue (aside: it’s a little weird to have dinner before a sold out concert with the headliner at the nicest restaurant near the venue. Never been stared at so much in my life) and I asked Rosanne if she had ever played at the Chastain Amphitheatre. She stopped dead in her tracks, wheeled around to me, and hissed through gritted teeth,” I HATE that f***ing place!”. A few months later I read her short story collection, Bodies of Water, and she mentioned how dreadful Chastain is in one of the pieces.
The audience at the Cistern that night was great. You could hear the proverbial pin drop.
The Cistern during Spoleto has to be one of the best venues ever.
It certainly was that night.
Just got back from Spoleto this weekend – we saw Brazilian pianist Andre Mehmari at the Cistern Yard – an amazing artist, respectful audience, and a wonderful venue!
Another reason to continue my blog crush of STG. John Prine!!! Swoon.
If you want to see John Prine again I would do it soon. We went to Athens to see him at the Classic Center and he put on a great show. But the cancer took its toll and he’s looking his age. love him.
Very sad.
Artists have complained about Chastain for years and years (“I should know better that to play at this place,” Michael Stipe fumed at an REM show I attended back in ’03).. You see the same kind of behavior at the Ted, with people totally disengaged from the game and walking back and forth to their seats even while there’s play occurring on the field — something you’d never experience in a real baseball town. It may be one of Atlanta’s most annoying quirks. Why the hell spend money on tickets if you have no interest in the central attraction?
Preach it, brother. I’ve seen a variety of bands there (including Morrissey, Heart, Alice Cooper and, most recently, Smashing Pumpkins), and I agree with what you and everyone else says here. I’m always disappointed in the shows because it’s obvious the performers don’t like the venue (of course, Morrissey doesn’t like ANYthing).
I cringe every time a band I like plays there, because everything about the place sucks.
http://deadspin.com/map-do-you-live-in-ihop-america-or-waffle-house-americ-510668232
Waffle House Nation rules.
several Decaturites, including me, sing with the William Baker Festival Singers who performed at Spoleto on Monday to a packed house of very appreciative and attentive listeners who contributed to one of the most rewarding performances in my musical career, and it pains me to hear about the absurd audiences at Chastain being so rude to the artists who mount that stage. music has always taken a back seat to socializing and posing there.
i consider a Chastain ticket a complete waste of money.
Has anyone mentioned lately how “third-world” DeKalb County government manages it’s business? Closed on a house Friday. Former owner for some un-godly reason had DeKalb County Watershed Mgt turn off the water & LOCK the FREAKING meter. It can take up to FIVE business days for the water department to come & unlock the meter (restore service). Gosh almighty, I hate this county.
Jump on craigslist and freecycle and everywhere you can think of, find somebody who owns one of those wrench-key things you can use to turn your water on. They are around. I saw somebody advertising one not long ago, was most likely on either the Oakhurst Yahoo group or the local Freecycle page. I will take a look at the Oakhurst list and see if I can find it.
I found it, as of several weeks ago one of my neighbors offered it on freecycle. Have reached out to her but she may be out of town. Not sure the item she has/had will work, but it might. If I find her or the key, will hook you up with whoever has it.
Did you tell your real estate agent? The same thing happened to me and my agent came out and turned the water on. I think it is a common problem.
Neighbors are saying they’ve used vise grips and adjustable wrenches, and also that a particular kind of wrench is available at Home Depot at low cost but it won’t work if meter is locked. Maybe I’m thinking of the old kind of meter, which was effectively “locked” if the water dept turned it off, because you had to have that special key on a long handle in order to turn it back on.
Good luck!
Mic – I’VE got the water key thingy that smalltowngal’s talkin’ about — it’s the very one that was up on Freecycle 2 wks ago! I’d be glad to lend it out if it’s still needed. Can’t help with the lock part, but since there’s always a lock on the meter, I’m betting the Water folks didn’t do anything there but take a final reading. DM can give you my contact info.
(Also, I have to give props to Watershed Mgt because I had a plumber on standby when I needed my water turned off, and the service gal was at my house to take care of it within the same hour of me calling it in.)
Thanks for all the advice. I know how to turn on the water @ the meter using vise grips. However, the water dept actually put a pin-type lock on the valve, locking it closed. Yes, I did tell my agent & yes they came over with the water valve wrench; but like me, they couldn’t turn it on due to the lock. Fortunately, we are not moving until next week. But, come on locking the meter? What does the water dept think someone would do, just run water for the heck of it. I blame the former owner, she had to request the shut-off. Still, not happy about toting water from one house to another to flush the freaking toilet.
Sorry like others about your troubles but it may not be solely the fault of the seller. I bought 4+ years ago and recall a Dekalb Co. Water Management form I had to complete as a part of my closing preparation documents. The closing assistant at my buyers’ agent office made sure it was submitted in time. My water meter was not locked but w/o the form I was told it would be. The form transferred the payment responsibility to me as well as exempting me from replacing toilets with low flow ones, something not required then in the city but mandatory in other areas of Dekalb.
Sharron,
Thanks for the suggestion on the form. Yep, I have completed it as well (exempt as in the City of Decatur) & faxed it in with the other multitudes of paperwork. Why can GA Power & the gas company switch over service with one 10 minute phone call, but DeKalb County requires tons of paperwork & then still up to 5 business days to come unlock the meter? Why lock it anyway? Do they think someone is going to just turn the outside water on & leave it on? Idiots. Another reason DeKalb County should just dissolve itself.
Well, I have to admit that some people do use other people’s water. When there was a lot of renovation around us, a couple of times, we found contractors hooking up their hoses to our outdoor water faucet and/or electrical cords to our outdoor electrical outlet. When I would spot them, they’d say “Oh we heard that you gave your neighbor permission to use your facilities…” (Not true of course but hard to prove…) For the amount of work they were doing, they could have run up our water or electrical bills considerably.
But that doesn’t excuse DeKalb Water for taking so long to turn on the water…. In the old days, it used to take forever to get phone service when you moved to a new city. Now I guess it’s water and internet access.
Has anyone been to the new Mar restaurant? I saw people complaining on Yelp that the kitchen wasn’t able to get any food out on opening night. Anyone have a better experience?
No. We went on a slow night last week. The food came out randomly. Some in our party had finished dinner prior to others being served. We were informed that one appetizer wasn’t available after entrees had been served. No deserts. Watered down Margarita. On the other hand, the food was quite delicious, but not enough to overcome the horrible kitchen service. Our server was clearly embarrassed to be working there, having to apologize so many times.
I hate to complain like this about a new restaurant.
Waited two hours for our food on opening night. Nothing came. Ever. Not even the ceviche guacamole that doesn’t need to be cooked. None of the other tables around us got their food either. Finally the server told us we should probably just leave.
It was bizarre.
Apparently, two of the line cooks quit on opening night. Just a rumor I heard. Don’t know if it’s true. Tragic thing to happen when you’re trying to get a restaurant off the ground.
But no one came by to explain what was going on, to apologize, to offer to comp the drinks … Nothing. Not a manager in sight. It seemed like a disaster. The server even overcharged us for the drinks we ordered. We had to remind her there was a special.
Hope they can pull it together.
Went this past weekend. No major problems with service or food delivery. The tacos were actually pretty good and the chips and salsa were tasty too. Only disappointment was they were out of the wine I ordered. For taste, I definitely prefer MAR over Hola so far!
Does anyone have a good recommendation for an exterminator? Preferably not one of the big chains. Thanks!
Mark at Avondale Pest Control.
Even though it is a big operation, I have been very happy with Allgood. If they pest come back, so do they at no additional charge.
+ 1 for Allgood. Great service!
Does anyone know of a good glass repair person anywhere within a 5-45 minute drive around here? Got some things that aren’t really of anything but sentimental value, but that alone is worth having them fixed…thanks in advance!!
Used to be a booth at the monthly Lakewood antiques market, I had an old martini glass repaired one time (tiny chip on rim, he ground it down past the chip). Probably folks at Kudzu and/or those shops on Cheshire Bridge Rd. could refer you.
Check in with Kelly at Dixie Glasshoppers on Ponce just east of Sams Crossing.
Thanks, STG & Fats! This helps a great deal!
We’ve used Zone pest solutions for the last few years and we’ve been pleased. Quarterly treatments and a termite bond.
Umm… nothing on the stolen ambulance ride that closed down Church Street?
That’s what it was? We couldn’t imagine what caused such a hubbub.
around 1 or 1:30 or so?
Around 5 o’clock, they might have apprehended the guy in front of me. Due to the street being blocked, I got routed down that side road that dumps out at the horrible 5 way intersection on N Decatur and Medlock. As we all waited 4 or 5 times for the red light to cycle all of us out, about 10 Dekalb and Decatur Police cars came rushing through the intersection, red lights blazing, sirens blaring and slammed on the brakes in the middle of the intersection. They took a guy down that was standing along side the road in front of Last Chance Thrift. I was in the front of the line by that point and it happened right in front of me. Pretty harrowing for a Saturday afternoon in Decatur.
On my third visit of the day to Ace (don’t ask), which could have been about 5:00, saw 3-4 Dekalb Police units parked in driveways on both sides of Scott between Ace & Superior along with one Decatur Police car parked right in front of Ace. The Dekalb cars all had their blue flashers going, but I couldn’t quite figure out what was going on. It sure slowed people down all the way back up to Parkwood (good thing IMO).
DeKalb PD caught the guy after a three hour search up and down Scott Blvd and side streets. He was jumping into and out of backyards, stealing mail, trying to break into houses. I talked to a patrol man who came to my house due to this guy’s funny business in my carport-stolen mail scattered, discarded clothing, etc.
Stealing mail???
Yes, I have several letters from a business near me that will be returned to them on Monday.
Now somebody please explain all of the folks dressed up walking around downtown this afternoon in costumes such as a stylistic take on Strawberry Shortcake/goth Strawberry Shortcake.
I wondered that myself. Looked like they were going to a Mad Hatter tea party.
Can’t really explain it, but last night they were having a parade of sorts; someone was holding a sign that read “Frill Walk”. That and curiosity led me to: http://affrilliation.com/.
I just checked out that website. For once, I am speechless.
A lot less creepy than the “Lolita” name might connote, according to Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lolita_fashion
To each his/her own, I s’pose…
My son and I were sitting out in front of Starbucks yesterday afternoon and we saw them too. They said what they were wearing is “Japanese Street Fashion.”
I would think Googling Lolita fashion could get you all kinds of surveillance attention….
Today, from 4:30-6pm, we’ll be live streaming a Life Sentence Album concert from my studio in Inman Park, 800 East.
Invite you all to check out the performance: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/life-sentence-album-concerts.
ABOUT LIFE SENTENCE STUDIO CONCERT: Clarence Harrison, the first man exonerated by the GA Innocence Project, will tell his story and talk about working with musicians Melanie Hammet and Ben Holst. Melanie and Ben will perform several songs inspired by Clarence’s experiences from the upcoming release— LIFE SENTENCE: the album. This album will benefit the GA Innocence Project.
Anybody with firsthand experience whitening antique linens? I have a chestful of handmade items that came down through my family, the oldest probably 100 years, most probably from the ’20s and ’30s. Lots of crochet, embroidery of various types, tatting, Sizes range from handkerchiefs to tea towels to bedspreads. Some have stains of various (and unknown) origins, many just yellow or brown with age. Online research has turned up varied (and sometimes contradictory) advice. So would love to hear any success stories — and especially, any failure stores — before I leap in and start experimenting.
Oxyclean. Soak then wash.
I’m a huge fan of the stuff. Are you saying it’s safe for fabric that’s old and maybe fragile?
Hullo Deecatah Neighbas! (Stephan Pastis reference)
A shout out to the Decatur Sanatation/Garbage Department who earned my heartfelt thanks over the weekend during Neighborhood Cleanup Days. Not only did they get the lumber I placed on the street (a week early I might add), but the guys also came by on the 1st, when my family and I were out of town, and picked up some old lawn equipment that I had placed in front of the house. Driving back today, my wife said, “How much do you want to bet that the junk in front of the yard is still there on Sunday?”. We were both pleasantly surprised that everything was picked up.
Good Job Sanitation Department and Chief Sean Woodson!