Free-For-All Friday 3/7/14
Decatur Metro | March 7, 2014 | 7:00 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.
My middle-aged dad garage band, The Teardowns (at least that’s the current name), are going to play a set TONIGHT at the Adult Prom. Don’t worry, there’s also a DJ – DJ Hammalock, also Renfroe parent talent. It’s a Renfroe PTA fundraiser, 7-11 at the Old Courthouse. It will be a lot of fun. Be there or be square.
Available for backyard parties, too, by the way.
More info on the prom: renfroepta.org
This will surely be epic. Tear it up!
How’d it go?? Did y’all rock the house??
We have a blast just playing in the basement by ourselves, so playing for a bunch of people dancing was a ton of fun. The whole event was fun.
Should we refer to you as Judd the Rock Star now? :0)
Glad to hear it was super fun for everyone!
You are a man of many mysteries, Judd
Looks like the old church off Hibernia is coming down…bummer, one of the last vestiges of Atlanta Ave. Too bad the city cant give a density bonus or something to save the church for an alternate use.
My Travoltified name is FM Fats. Sigh.
Amy recommendations for a good lawn mower repair place? Need a good tune up and oil change on a Honda push mower. I know I could do it myself but I really need to drain the old oil out good and can’t seem to do that without making a complete mess.
I imagine Snellville wouldn’t work, right?
There’s really not much that Snellville works for. They do have a Provino’s, though. Why, oh why, can we not have a Provino’s, Scalini’s or Biba’s here in Decatur?!?
Ah, Provino’s….got my free birthday meal there (Duluth location) nearly ever year until I moved back in town from the exurbs. For whatever reason, I just can’t get with the fancy Italian places around here (and I’m a bit of a food snob about most other cuisines).
Speaking of fancy Italian, had an awesome dinner at La Grotta last night.
I love all of the new fancy Decatur joints, but don’t forget about arguably the best authentic Italian in town.. Some of you will say Nino’s or other Cheshire Bridge spots, but do yourself a favor and go have some veal at La Grotta!
I love La Grotta. Last time I was there a dachshund was sitting at the next table. Indoors.
the small joint on E. College across the street from Our Way Cafe Plaza
Heh. You said “small joint” across from Our Way and all I could thing of was Waffle House. But then I remembered that I’ve only ever had big joints before eating there.
Is that how your clients are paying you now, JT?
Mower Menders on Lawrenceville Hwy in Tucker. I’d recommend changing or sharpening the blade while you’re having the other work done.
This might be the winner. It’s conveniently just past the Big Green Egg store. Two birds, one stone!
Try Grimes lawn mower repair on College
The tiny little shop next to Waffle House in Avondale; and tiny little shop over there by Sun In My Belly. I vouch for one, my Oakhurst neighbor vouches for the other.
Wow, thanks for all the recommendations! Who knew there were so many lawn mower repair places around?!?
Second. These guys are quite good.
Mower Menders in Tucker. 2 miles OTP on Lawrenceville Hwy. Factory authorized Honda facility. Good dealing with them.
I’ve had mine worked on at the small engine repair shop on College just west of the East Lake Marta station near Dannemans. I also get my firewood there.
there’s a place right on College Ave, near Sun in My Belly. The guy there is awesome.
Yes, that’s the place I’m talking about. He has been very good with me.
There’s a little tiny place on Memorial just after I-20, looks like a lawn mower graveyard. Took a while, but they’re honest and relatively cheap.
Memorial and I-20 never cross. Where are you talking about?
Sorry – on Memorial, just after Moreland.
Heh.
I need to get my blinds cleaned and windows washed. Does anyone have a recommendation?
we have used sunshine window cleaning in the past and have been very pleased both with the work done and the reasonable price
thank you!
They do not clean blinds. Does anyone know of someone who cleans blinds and windows? Thanks
You should consider just buying new blinds, perhaps in a new color too
That is a terrible idea
But if you ever consider it, go to blinds.com. I got top-down/bottom-up cellular shades (Bali) there for less than half the prices quoted by HD and Lowes. Was a nervous wreck measuring (even though they offer free exchange on up to one that doesn’t fit, they pay shipping both ways), but they fit perfectly and installation was a snap. They had great pre-purchase support via live chat and phone, to help me decide which mounting style would work best. (Rep had me email her pics of my windows.) I couldn’t be happier with them.
Where can I get an iPhone 4S battery changed locally? Thanks.
there’s a cool feature on the iPad called Guided Access. once activated, it limits a user to a single activity—disallowing any others without entering a password.
so, for example, your son has a Kindle book he needs to read, and you don’t want to walk in on him playing Minecraft instead. turn on Guided Access, and Kindle reading is all he can do.
hypothetically.
last night I asked my son to read his Kindle book at bedtime. he asks me, “you want me to turn Guided Access back on?”
uh, yeah, please.
LOL
Just have to add that guided access is great for special needs kids to stay in educational or alternative communication apps (instead of angry birds)
Are there any churches that do a good fish fry on Fridays around here?
St Thomas More on West Ponce
St. Thomas More on Ponce
Does anyone have a local dermatologist recommendation for getting a little light cosmetic work done? Dermal fillers most likely. Also interested in hearing any horror stories that might make me reconsider!
Venus Med Spa- They do all fillers and Tox- Every service is performed by an excellent PA, Very good prices. I’m presently sporting some of her lovely art at the moment
Thanks Daydreamer! Which PA do you see there?
Amy. I’ve had other injectors (including an actual Derm) and I won’t see anyone but her again, she’s fantastic and painless.
Tell me about your fillers and what you are doing, please. I am interested because my once flawless skin now has 12 unattractive lines.
I have a whole lot of junk in my yard to get rid of. Does anyone know the date of the next super trash day?
Here is the link to the clean up day schedule:
http://www.decaturga.com/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=4832
It depends on what neighborhood you live in. The county website still has the 2013 flyer up, not 2014. But it’s usually in the Spring. The contact information listed is Sean Woodson at sean woodson decaturga com or 404-377-5571.
Thanks for the responses and link. I’m all set now.
Is it odd that super trash day is one of my favorite days of the year? I used to look forward to parties, concerts, birthdays, holidays, etc. Now it’s super trash day. I guess I really am an adult. Sigh.
It was the highest of high holy days at my house.
Reminder to all that electronics recycling day is 3/22!
I am looking for housecleaning help. Initially a spring/deep clean, then regular once or twice a month visits. Must be an individual or business that will provide proof of proper tax payment.
from the Lenox Place Facebook page;
Hi neighbors! I wanted to pass along the name/number of someone who is turning out to be a lifesaver for us! If you are looking for someone to clean your home, look no further than Bianca with ‘Simple & Clean’. This is a teeny-tiny company that Bianca has started, and she is just awesome. She has excellent attention to detail, great rates and is a sweetheart to boot! In fact, she donates a house cleaning each month to a different patient diagnosed with MS (a cause near and dear to her heart). I just can’t say enough about her, and wanted to pass it along to the neighborhood! http://www.simplecleandone.com or (404) 369-6081
Looking for someone with a little juice at ATT Uverse. I’m trying–honest to god, I’m trying–to subscribe to their Internet service. So far, they’ve sent me a damaged modem which is probably only cosmetic damage, but how can I tell, since they failed to get the signal going on the activation day; processed the order for the wrong level of service at the wrong rate; didn’t show up on the appointed day to do whatever they need to do get the signal going in my apt. Calling is futile, they just pass me around from one person to another, none of whom have access to any info from the field techs; when I try to access order status online, I get an error message.
I seem to recall someone commenting here once that they work for AT&T Uverse. If they are tuned in today, then maybe you can hook us up, DM? Thanks!
AT&T employees have a process to escalate issues such as yours. If you’re OK with providing your name and contact information (and some detail on the problems you’re experiencing) I will be happy to use that process.
I can be reached at agingmetalhead at gmail dot com.
Anyone know a good place for dogs to play in the water?
Anyone know a good place for dogs to play in the water?
Oops! User error!
Lots of people walk the cherokee trail around stone mountain with their dogs and let them play in the lakes. It’s a good hike if you and the pooches are in hiking shape.
Touch a Truck is tomorrow and it is predicted to be 68 and sunny. Woohoo! http://beactivedecatur.wordpress.com/2014/03/06/touch-a-truck-is-saturday-the-weather-will-be-sunny/
“Anyone know a good place for dogs to play in the water?”
Outside.
Seriously though, I’ve seen people playing fetch with their dogs in the creek at Mason Mill Park. Probably pretty high right now with all the rain we’ve had the last 9 months or so.
Happy Friday! I was hoping someone could recommend a local, reliable and reasonably priced exterior house painter.
It’s just the back portion of an older wood home (500 sq ft) but window scraping, priming, etc. required.
Did most of the house myself, two year ago and realized interior painting is my strong suit.
I had a couple of bids on a similar project and the lowest by far was R & M Painting, 404-621-5110. The lead painter, Ramiro, was a real perfectionist and a pleasure to work with.
Found some World War II era negatives while going thru my father’s things. Looks to be photos of his time in the Army Air Corps.
Is there a photo place that still does prints from old negatives?
Your best bet is a scanning service. Have the negatives scanned and then use the resulting jpeg/TIFF files to get prints. I know Costco has (or uses) a scanning service, but don’t know if there’s a minimum quantity required. Lots, and lots of mail order scanning services as well.
The place at corner of Lavista & Cheshire Bridge, maybe.
The camera shop by Bicycle South/Wuxtry at N. Decatur/Clairmont.
George Dunn of Dusty Attic Photos here in Decatur hand-scanned my 1930s negatives into tiff files for me last month and they came out great. You can reach him at 404-422-4587 or see his web page at dusty attic photos dot com.
After more than 15 years, I finally removed Yahoo as my homepage. Couldn’t take the pop-ups and fluff stories anymore. I’d switched to Google for searches years ago, but found it hard to change my home page.
Any recommendations for a good website that is like the old Yahoo – top headlines, weather, stock indices, etc. that I can scan in 30 seconds? CNN is too busy and NPR doesn’t have anything local. Thanks.
Try 106.7 website, it’s ok. Google News has a page similar to what you are looking for, minus the local. I’ve also got NYT Times Most Pop saved, if there’s a big Intl story that’s not being covered chances are it will be on there. I’d love to see the wizard of Oz make a Georgia Metro type site, I can’t take the AJC anymore, I have the “my AJC” subscription because we get the paper, but haven’t actually logged in, in months, because it’s still mostly junk. Someone really needs to fill the Atlanta news gap. I know this is crazy, but I learn a lot from Gawker as well.
I use http://www.ighome.com for my home page. It is what the old igoogle used to be. I have a bunch of different website feeds on it and each gives me a few headlines (or blog entries or whatever). You can have several tabs for different feeds, for example, my main tab is called “news” and has my email account, NPR, the AJC , BBC News and Decatur Metro on it. (You can add feeds from any website you choose and drag them around to arrange however you like.) I have another tab called “home” that has all cooking/homekeeping website feeds on it, and a third that has all feeds from miscellaneous websites like Lifehacker and How-To Geek, plus some random blog feeds. I can look at each tab, scan each feed and click (or not) on any link to go to the news item.
I was so sad when igoogle went away, and so happy to find this replacement.
This is basically what I use Twitter for. Follow all the local/regional/national accounts that are relevant to you and you can simply scan your newsfeed for easy links to everything.
If you have a Google account you can customize Google News to show whatever you want.
To get to Google News go to regular Google and click on the little collection of blocks next to the Sign In button in the upper right.
Georgia 10×10 will send you an email with the top10 stories in Ga by 10 a.m.- they may have feed to go into personalized web pages too, I just use the lazy inbox delivery. They cull from papers all over the state.
Seems most of them are crap now, dominated by links to drivel about the Kardashians or Bieber.
Can anyone recommend an outfit that cleans gutters?
https://www.abetterguttercleaning.com/
They do a good job and are inexpensive. Nice folks too.
+1 on A Better Gutter Cleaning. You can schedule it and pay online and not be there when they clean.
we use firehouse every year (770.403.3636) great group of guys and very reasonably priced!
Anyone know of a local gas station that sells ethanol free gas?
I don’t know how accurate this map is, but it looks like the closest one is a CITGO in Conyers called Elliot’s.
See: www pure-gas org
Any comments on the Phase One construction of the YDFM expansion on DeKalb Ind. Blvd.? I thought I would hear howls about how many trees they are taking out.
Those trees are in postal Decatur.
Where is GGD?
Showing up at Medline LCI Meetings. It’s very satisfying to listen to the consultants swat them down like flies. (Sizemore does it by trying to educate how wanting one thing affects other parts of what you’re seeking, but it’s highly doubtful GGDers hear anything they don’t want to hear.)
Cathy of MANA put up her terrific notes about the last public meeting. (Gosh, I miss when Jonathan Cribbs was covering N. Druid Patch area news. This stuff is too important to our area to not be getting highlighted.)
http://www.medlockpark.org/2014/02/update-on-medline-lci-study-community.html
For those of you with kids, please consider attending this event tomorrow at the Alliance. Tickets are $35/adult and $20/kids and proceeds fund a Title 1 school being able to bring their kids to a performance. Definitely worthwhile! Hope to see you there!
FAMILIES Center Stage:
Family Fun Festival + Shrek the Musical!
March 8, 2014
Festival is from 2:00-4:00pm
Shrek Performances are at 1:00pm & 4:00pm
For one day only, the Woodruff Arts Center Galleria transforms into “Shrek Land” with live performances, arts, crafts and music for the whole family to enjoy! Besides all of the festivities of FAMILIES Centerstage, your tickets include admission to either the 1:00pm or 4:00pm performance of Shrek the Musical. Confirmed participants for this year’s event include Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Botanical Gardens, Center for Puppetry Arts, Expressions in Motion Dance, Fernbank Museum, High Museum of Art, Macaroni Kid, and Zoo Atlanta. FAMILIES Centerstage benefits the Alliance Theatre’s education program. Go to http://www.alliancetheatre.org/FAMILIEScenterstage for tickets and more information. To learn about becoming a patron sponsor for FAMILIES Centerstage, please contact Bryan Saxon at [email protected] or call 404.733.5186.
Happy International Women’s Day!
In different regions the focus of the celebrations ranges from general celebration of respect, appreciation and love towards women to a celebration for women’s economic, political, and social achievements. Read more at http://www.internationalwomensday.com
Its tomorrow but we can start a little early saying Thank You!
Bicycle South is looking to hire. If anyone knows of someone looking for part time or full time work AND knows something about bicycles, please ask them to come by the store (N. Decatur & Clairmont) and fill out a job app. If you know of a high school student interested in some after school and weekend hours plus summer work, please send them by too! We like to hire local high school students all the time. Haegan has been with us for a number of years, but he’s graduating this spring and heading off this fall.
Thanks!
A quick peek in my refrigerator is evidence of severe soup hoarding behaviors. Need one of every flavor. Thanks Souper Jenny!
Hoarders: The Soup Edition
I first read that as “a quick pee in my refrigerator”.
With as much soup as we are consuming, that is another likely scenario! 😉
I still need a place that can change an iPhone battery, if anybody knows of one.
Have you tried Batteries Plus at Shamrock Plaza?
Have you asked Siri?
LifeLine Repairs in Loehmann’s (now closed) Plaza at the corner of N Druid Hills and Briarcliff
There’s a place in the shopping plaza where Best Buy is in Northlake. It works miracles on mobile phones.
The county courthouse parking is often touted as a place to park at night and on weekends. Well, I just parked there and it was horrible tonight. Several whole sections are without light. It’s not clearly marked which way to go to get to the exit. And the stairwell I used reeked incredibly of urine. I’m pretty sure the drain at the bottom is used as a urinal. It really is worse than my memory of deserted NYC subway stations at night in the 1980s before the revival of Manhattan. Until the lighting and smell and signage are improved there, it’s unrealistic to think that many folks are going to park there at night. It’s a shame—we really need free public parking Downtown for the businesses that depend on patrons from outside the walkable parts of the City of Decatur but that structure isn’t it. I wish the City could take it over from the County and make it more palatable to visitors and shoppers. And me. I’d rather circle the Square a bunch of times and find a less disgusting space.
This is true. The stairways do double as urinals. It’s absolutely disgusting. The city really should do something about it.
The City can’t do anything about it. It belongs to the County. The City has no control over it whatsoever.
It’s been a couple of months since I’ve used that deck (I moved to Atlanta last year), but I used it regularly for years, at all times of the day and all seasons of the year, and never found it as traumatic as you describe. And I still use it when I have errands in Decatur. It’s so underutilized, I’ve never once had a problem parking close to an exit in an adequately lighted area. Furthermore, the whole thing is too small to get seriously lost in — I refer you to the parking structures at Lenox Square, Phipps Plaza and Atlantic Station, each of which boasts tons of fancy signage that’s not the least bit helpful.
Would I want to set up a picnic in the courthouse parking garage? No. Do the stairwells stink? Yes. Does the disgust last longer than 10-12 seconds at the outside? No. The more it gets used for parking, the less it’ll get used as a urinal. (Hopefully, the same is true for the parking deck at the library, where I was appalled to come upon a mother encouraging her kid to pee in the corner, a couple of years ago.) If you think that parking deck should get more use, then start using it. If you don’t want to use it, then go park in the one behind Mick’s and pay.
BTW, why should Decatur feel obligated to provide FREE parking? Didn’t we all learn playing Monopoly that Free Parking is an occasional windfall, not something you can count on?
I don’t suppose Decatur HAS to provide free parking. But the City and Decatur businesses tout the County parking deck as free to shoppers and visitors after weekday daytime hours. The deck as it is isn’t going to attract shoppers and visitors. I think it’s has gotten much worse. I’ve used it a few times a year over the years and never loved it but I was shocked this time to see whole levels without lights, depending on the light from outside or the other levels. And the smell is much worse-truly rivaling the worst of the worst–NYC subway during the days when it was NY’s answer to shelter for the homeless. I’m not surprised given the general dysfunction of DeKalb County right now. I don’t think how much we use the parking deck makes any difference to the County, although it may make the deck safer.
I’ve had another thought. I wonder if there’s city code that the parking deck has to meet in terms of lighting, signage, and cleanliness. That would be one way for the City to make the parking deck more attractive to patrons of Downtown businesses. But maybe the County doesn’t have to follow city code just like it doesn’t have to pay city taxes?
Come on Decatur. Play dirty. Threaten to dig up the street in front of all the entrances and exits to the deck until DeKalb cleans up its act.
Chris Christie, where are you when we need tough guy politics?
So you don’t think a polite call to the County asking them to follow code would work?
Maybe you can spearhead a project to be funded by DBA of stairwell power washing, lightbulb replacement and sprayed-on signage. Perhaps if County is approached with plan, funding and labor, they might give consent.
Don’t forget kickbacks and targeted contracts aka how DeKalb works.
Am pretty overloaded on the spearheading thing right now but it is a great idea to see if DBA could get involved. It’s pretty standard for businesses around the Square to tell patrons about the Courthouse parking after hours.
Library parking has been mentioned: I’ve always thought that it’s officially supposed to be for library and Rec Center parking. I know that it’s usually got space on the bottom deck but sometimes the whole deck is pretty full, especially if there’s something special going on in town, at the library, or at the Rec Center. Is library parking open to all or is it supposed to be for library/Rec Center patrons?
The deck behind the library is for the library and the Rec. I have seen security guards make people leave if they don’t have business in those places. After hours it’s fair game.
Anyone know of a quick way to dispose of a mattress around here? My friend is moving and needs to get rid of one STAT.
I heard the Salvation Army takes them but I don’t know the details (e.g. what condition they must be in).
I put my old mattress out on my front lawn with a big sign that said “free” and it was gone by the end of the day. Did the same thing with a broken mini-fridge, a desk, and lots of other items.
I wish I could like this comment!! 😉
I put mine out on the front lawn too. I also posted a curb alert on craiglists and it was gone by 6pm.
Every year someone explains this to me and I every year I forget–why is that, if springing ahead to Daylight Savings Time is so important, we can’t we just keep it all year long? I HATE the springing forward. And the falling back 6 months later is not adequate compensation.
There’s much debate about whether DST has any real value, and some contend it’s actually bad for our health because of how the extra hour of daylight throws off our sleep pattern. Even the energy savings (the main reason for DST) are debatable. Some have pointed out that the extra hour of daylight on the evening end leads to more air conditioner use.
Personally, I’m not much of an outdoors person, so I’m fine with it getting dark earlier.
Does anyone have an old wooden style TV to give away or sell? I want to convert one into a puppet theater for my kids.
You can email me at nelliiebelle1197 at yahoo dot com