Free-For-All Friday 1/31/14
Decatur Metro | January 31, 2014 | 8:06 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.
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.
Peripatetian
At Home in Decatur
Chris Billingsley
4/5
Robert Butera
Scott
Tom Stubbs
Marty
Keith F
Rick
David
Scott
AJC Attempts to Explain the “e” in Clairemont Avenue
Here’s to playing nice today.
Speaking of playing, who has big Super Bowl Party plans?
No party, just staying home and making baja tofu tacos for the game. Because nothing says football like tofu tacos.
Oh tofu. Just can’t wrap my mouth around that. Maybe mental, maybe texture, maybe not prepared in a fabulous manner. What’s the secret?
Actually, you hit the nail on the head– it is mental. If you are mindful of what you are eating when you eat tofu alternatives (animal), you can think your way to eating tofu pretty quickly. Or at least I did! Eating is soooo personal (it is the new politics, religion and sex) but I generally think that any modification in diet begins and ends with the brain. You can decide that gluten is bad, you can decide that carbs are bad, you can decide that the hormones shot into animals and passed along to you in meat and dairy are bad, you can decide that pesticides are bad, you can decide that foods with high fat are bad…or you can decide not to think about any of those things and just eat what tastes best or what is cheapest. Aside from food allergies, it is all about the brain. Taste buds adapt– I think it is after eating something 12 times. (Can’t remember number specifically.). That said, well-prepared tofu is much easier on the taste buds and I would love to have the Baja Taco recipe, please brianc!
“or you can decide not to think about any of those things and just eat what tastes best”
Done!
14 times is the generally accepted number.
I’m not crazy about the the texture of tofu either, so preparation is the key. The tacos use a Panko crust for the tofu. My favorite tofu dish in a restaurant is the spicy tofu skin at Gu’s Bistro on Buford Hwy. It’s sort of like a slightly crispy noodle. Delicious.
Ahhhhh, Gu’s!! Am a huge fan–and now that you’ve mentioned them, can feel a distinct craving for their crispy fish with peanuts & chilis!!
If you go for dinner, I’d advise making a reservation. That place is crazy popular. And there is likely to be some pent-up demand from people iced in this week.
This tofu recipe will knock your socks off: Pan Fried tofu with Spinach, Pear and Star Anise http://www.tylerflorence.com/?p=777. It is from Tyler Florence’s “Real Kitchen” cookbook. Too bad the online recipe doesn’t have a photo.
If you freeze firm tofu and then thaw and press out the liquid before cooking , the texture become more meat-like. I roast squares tossed in olive oil and garlic in a hot oven until golden brown. Delicious in salads, stir-frys, sandwiches, etc.
So freezing helps dry it out?
Try Noodle’s Thai Peanut Noodle bowl with tofu- all you will notice is flavor, not tofu.
Please share your recipe!
Here’s a link to the one I’m using:
http://vegweb.com/recipes/baha-tofu-tacos-cilantro-cole-slaw
That actually looks incredibly yummy!! I like the fact that it uses corn tortillas–will definitely add these to my “must try” list. Thanks for sharing!
If you do, make more of the rub than it calls for in the recipe. I did not have enough for all of the tofu. They were pretty good though.
Oh, good to know! How much more, would you say–half again as much?
At least.
just dropped the kids off at school. we were running a bit late, which explains why no one was on the sidewalks. **finally** a day of uninterrupted work.
Did you flush? I’m sorry, I couldn’t help myself.
You just became the most hated/envied man in Decatur. Can we drop ours off at your school too?
sending one of mine (kids that is) to work with the hubby – his office is open today with a two hour delayed start time. The teenager will probably sleep in – all homework completed yesterday just in time for the CSD robo call to stay safe and warm.
I believe Rick was going for a bit of humor.
“little” being the operative word 😉
Paideia is open today.
I have it on good authority that my Alma mater is sending a crew to rescue Rick’s kids.
I hope that everyone has recovered from the snow! Can anyone recommend a good daycare in Decatur that accepts infants? We have a new one on the way and we’d like to know what our daycare options are. Thanks!
Time to get on the lists now since those infant spaces are hard to come by. Smarties, Frazer Center, College Heights (CoD residents) and Clifton School (Emory and CDC employees) are a few close by.
A lot of folks swear by First Baptist’s First School Child Development Center.
Agreed on First Baptist. My daughter is super happy there, and will be sending our son there when he arrives
I’m a teacher, so pretty picky, but the new director is on top of stuff. My only issue? I’d like to see them have a slightly healthier menu..
Thanks for your replies!
Suburban Nursery School
No comments on Phyllis Edwards statement about building another school will be necessary?
Ok, I’ll start! It would be nice to turn College Heights back into an elementary school since that’s a pretty congested part of town. I know there is a funky funding arrangement with Early Childhood Education that precludes this option, but isn’t there a (literal) payoff date soon?
It would be cool to be able to free up space in the elementaries to put the pre-K back in each school….
Another option I’ve heard people throw around is to incorporate Fernbank Elementary. I hope their rebuilt school is big!
Um… It sounds like you are suggesting waiting patiently for Dekalb County to spend millions building a 900 seat elementary school which the City of Decatur will then annex?
My younger child goes to Fernbank. And gosh knows I have lots of opinions about the unbelievable crazy seen in the DeKalb school district leadership, the various cityhood movements, a recent Decatur potential annexation map that very carefully comes within half a block of my house and but avoids adding a single residence, and many of the Decatur metro respondents that have made it very, very clear that they do not want any additional residential burden.
So I hope that I am misunderstanding something that was intended to be light hearted… Because that comment is really left a bad taste in my mouth. I hardly ever comment on Decatur metro, despite being a regular reader, because I do not in fact live within the city boundaries. And comments like that make me not ever want to.
I would say it was a pathetic attempt at humor. What’s really funny is the fact that not long ago the shoe was on the other foot. People in the county looked down on the city. So much so that there was a push to merge Decatur’s schools into the county. Dekalb wanted no part of that. If we live long enough we’ll probably see the pendulum swing again.
Don’t think closing College Heights would be a good decision. For one, it’s a model for how preschool should look nationwide. It allows preschool and PreK to offer more inclusive and comprehensive learning environments for early special needs children and is a fabulous asset to CSD. Also, it would cost millions to refit the building for elementary students. The majority of the rooms are too small for K+ classrooms, bathrooms are toddler size, rooms have built in changing tables, playgrounds are designed for 0-5. It would not be as easy as, “Oh, let’s just use CH.”
Which statement, when?
When/where did the supt make that statement about building a school? I have not seen it.
Don’t know about the whole statement but it was mentioned in the Metro section of todays AJC.
Thanks for the heads up on this. I think I found what you are referring to: from Bill Banks at ajc
http://www.ajc.com/news/news/local/county-by-county-news-for-friday/nc7Y4/
Edwards: New school likely needed
Decatur Schools Superintendent Phyllis Edwards said that given the city’s renewed focus on annexation, “It looks to me we’ll have to build another school or build on an existing campus.”
Last spring Decatur schools projected that total enrollment would swell to over 6,000 by 2018, but Edwards admitted those numbers are now outdated.
Neither annexation nor the city’s at least five planned mixed-use developments figured into those original projections.
Edwards added the only existing campus with room to build is Winnona Park Elementary. Bill Banks for the AJC
You found it before me. In searching the AJC for this article, I found some other fun stuff. Go to the Decatur News page. Take the quiz on how well you know Decatur sights. I got 7/7 and I bet most all DM readers would too. There’s also a #DecaturGA Twitter feed: Is there still a traffic jam at Clairemont and Commerce?
I took it last week and got 7/7 too … though I had my little 30030-grumble when I got to the yard on N. Druid Hills.
As for the traffic jam tweet, I assume you mean mine (DecaturSquared) about the gridlock at W PdL and Commerce? While there’s not gridlock at the moment, the traffic is backed up on Commerce from W PdL up around the corner by Decatur 1st – maybe further, but I can’t see around corners (yet). There’s a concrete slab delivery truck parked on Commerce by CVS waiting to deliver to 315.
The truck has now moved on, and traffic has cleared up — for the moment. But don’t attempt to get a spot in the CVS lot right now!
What was going on at Green Ginger yesterday? Huge line to get in, lots of cars in lot/traffic jam…
Chinese New Year celebrations, I believe…
Eat Well Indie-Catur campaign starts tomorrow! Every day in February, 9 Decatur restaurants are offering healthy entrees as part of the promotion. Diners who enjoy 3 featured healthy entrees 3 times during February earn a recipe book from local chefs.
Participating restaurants are Cakes & Ale, Chai Pani, Colbeh Persian Kitchen, No. 246, Parker’s on Ponce, Sapori di Napoli, The Corner Pub, Twain’s and Victory Sandwich Bar. Check their Facebook pages for specific info.
Anyone going to try this? If so, please report back on your experiences!
Given that many camp sign ups are either open or start tomorrow, I would like to know what the make-up days are going to be, so I don’t have to pay for *camp* when my daughter will be at *school* (although I have great doubts that anything is taught after the CRCT testing is complete).
Yes, I was thinking the same thing. The small print on the bottom of the CSD calendar seems to indicate that the next two make-up days will be Feb. 17-18 (during February Break). But we’ve got three days to make up. It would be nice to know for sure when the make-up days will be before I commit money to summer camps.
I am sure it has been a crazy week for the school system and that the powers that be will let us know about the adjusted calendar as soon as they can.
So what’s the story about 10 inches of snow on Friday? Somebody told me that in a coffeeshop this morning. How can this be predicted so far ahead?
God no. I just can’t have that
I seem to recall that the epic storm of March 1993 was predicted over a week in advance.
Keep calm and leave for home NOW! j/k This is a very early forecast from one computer system. Most forecasts call only for rain. And nobody can predict more than 3 days with accuracy.
Is it reasonable to venture from midtown to YDFM in the next hour? (I haven’t cranked my car since Tuesday.)
It is more than reasonable. I drove to Midtown from Decatur this morning and encountered only about ten feet of icy pavement, that being on a back road I use. The main streets appear to be completely clear.
I’d say it’s a lot more reasonable than trying to go to YDFM tomorrow, roads and weather be damned!
My thinking exactly. Thanks, Bill and J_T!
Has an official reason been given as to why CSD schools are closed today? I’m from The Nawth originally, and though I understand the whole “we don’t have the resources to clear this” thing, but things seemed normal by yesterday afternoon.
I’m not complaining; now I don’t have to pay to put the kids in camp the first week of summer.
We were thinking about heading to Ink and Elm, but can’t get reservations in the dining room at the time that works for us – is the other side (isn’t Ink the casual, and Elm the nicer part, or did I dream that?) just as good as the fine more fine dining side?
I actually prefer the casual side, Ink. Can’t go wrong.
You can actually order off either/both menus from the bar in the main dining room — best seats in the house if you can get them.
It’s Live Performance Weekend for us. Book of Mormon tonight, friend’s daughter at Smith’s on Saturday, and Paul Thorn at Eddie’s on Sunday.
To the woman coming out of Salon Red about 2:00 today, holding a toddler’s hand: you might want to keep a sharper eye on that little guy, even when he’s literally in your grasp. I saw him reach down, grab some frozen slush from the pavement, and put it in his mouth. (I was idling in my car, waiting for the Church St. light to change.)
Please don’t be so judgmental, especially if you don’t have kids yourself.
I almost threw up in my mouth.
Which Decatur intersections would you turn into a roundabout first?
My top two are W Ponce/Nelson Ferry/Northern/Post office and Clairemont/Commerce. I have plenty of time to think about this sitting at Nelson Ferry.
+1 for W Ponce/Nelson Ferry/Northern/Post office
You remember the Nelson Ferry roundabout post from a while back, correct? http://www.decaturmetro.com/2011/07/07/ponce-nelson-ferry-roundabout-possible-but-needs-support-and-land/
Church/Forkner/Medlock
That is the worst intersection outside of the Medlock, Scott, North Decatur clusterwhatever. Add WalMart and watch the traffic go crazy.
Not to worry, AMB. According to Good Growth DeKalb, 75% of the community won’t be shopping there.
Somewhat amusing story (or maybe not): My wife has colleagues who work in India. She tells me they said our SnowJam made the Hyderabad newspapers.
South Parked with Jon Stewart – hilarious!
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-january-30-2014/south-parked
Wow. That was pretty rough. But hard to argue with.
I, for one, am tired of Yankees, even Yankees I like, making fun of Atlanta over this. They laugh at us because the entire metro region shuts down due to mismanagement (not snow, mismanagement), well, let’s see how they handle a couple weeks of 95 degree weather, yeah?
I feel kind of the same way, and was fully prepared not to be very amused because mocking Atlanta after a snowstorm is like shooting fish in a barrel. But Stewart’s take on it was pretty damned funny.
Thank you. I don’t like smug Yankees making fun of southerners but I do appreciate good humor. I think we should have the grace to laugh at ourselves y’all!
Anyone else notice all the Patch sites look the same and none of them have editors listed? I read they had a bunch of layoffs this week.
That’s what I heard. 2/3rds of all staff was cut.
To all you wondering about make up days, I for one vote they accept the State BOE rule that allows school districts 4 days for weather or other emergencies to be excused. Additionally, when a State of Emergency is officially declared, the days tend to be pardoned. We are already making up the first 2 days. This is an extremely rare occurance. Please don’t take away planned vacation days!
We didn’t make up ANY days during Snowpocalypse, did we?
If I remember correctly, they used the March day that was supposed to be a Teacher Workday and forgave the other 4.
Hey Everyone ( especially Lyrics Only Guy ) I’m making a Tree themed playlist for the 1st Annual Decatur Arbor Day Festival – hit me with your best shot!
I’ll go first : Hickory Wind
Blowin’ in the Wind? Whoops, I’m betraying my fear of falling trees.
Here’s a list…https://www.plt.org/stuff/contentmgr/files/1/3820646635e731d560dd9b8406bb549a/files/tree_songs.pdf
Thanks Keith F…….. And I guess that wraps things up …. Good night
The ones I thought of are on Keith’s list. But here’s another suggestion for entertaining and rewarding your troops: get that walking tree that I saw at the Avondale Arts Festival last year. Whoever was under that costume was really, really good at moving around the way you’d expect a big tree to move.
Whatever you do please don’t add Honey by Bobby Goldsboro.
Dadgummit, you just gave me the “Little Green Apples” earworm.
Dude – that’s an amazing segue from Snowpocolypse to Arbor Day….and the hair-do! :
Coconut Telegraph?
Lemon Tree?
Tangerine?
Lime in the Coconut (You get two for one)
Not sure why all my trees are tropicals.
Knock On Wood, Eddie Floyd
Lemon Tree, Peter, Paul and Mary
Norwegian Wood, The Beatles
and for a touch of irony,
Fake Plastic Trees, Radiohead
Perfect!
Did anyone else happen to have lunch at Wahoo today? My wife did and, interestingly enough, Governor Deal was two tables away enjoying this lovely snow-free weekend.
Roofer recommendations, anyone?
I used Wilson Roofing out of Lithonia to do a tear-off and re-roof in 2006. Very satisfied with their work and with their cleanup. Family owned and operated. Phone 770-482-8588 or find them online by searching “Wilson Roofing Lithonia”.
My brother-in-law works for an insured roofer. Call Rich at 678-898-0379.