Irm with the Decatur Makers writes in…

Just a neighborly FYI that we have shattered our initial $50K fundraising goal and are now ticking things off our wish-list such as a new roof, HVAC, inside walls, bathrooms, and safety equipment. AND this saturday, we’re coming together as a community for a hands-on Work Day to get the space ready for Maker Faire (makerfaireatl.com) which will be happening October 4/5.  Projects include plumbing, hammering, painting, digging, electrical and more.

We’re getting the word out that we’re looking for many hands, at all different skill levels, to help us anytime this Saturday between 8:30 and 4:00  http://www.meetup.com/Decatur-Makers/events/204923122/

The DBF just sent out this press release…

An estimated 90,000 book lovers poured into downtown Decatur over Labor Day weekend for the 2014 AJC Decatur Book Festival Presented by DeKalb Medical (AJC DBF), the ninth installment of the largest independent book festival in the country.

More than 600 authors packed 19 different stages, families enjoyed two children’s parades, and festivalgoers were treated to yet another fantastic art|DBF arts and culture showcase. The festival kicked off on Friday night with a sold-out Keynote Address by famed literary icon Joyce Carol Oates.

AJC DBF Programming Director, Philip Rafshoon, was thrilled with the outcome of this year’s festival.

“It was another record-setting year for the Decatur Book Festival, and our hundreds of events went off without a hitch,” said Rafshoon. “From our Keynote and Kidnote addresses on Friday, until the last book was signed on Sunday night, we had larger crowds than ever before and a solid, quality lineup across the entire literary spectrum.”

AJC DBF Executive Director and co-founder, Daren Wang, said he continues to be amazed by the growing success of the festival each year.

“Every year the AJC DBF tries to outdo and redefine itself. This year our author lineup was phenomenal and we brought in new types of programming with art|DBF, the Decatur Makers Tent, and our outdoor cooking stage,” said Wang. “The audiences were larger, more diverse, and even more engaged. It was easily the best DBF so far, but you ain’t seen nothing yet.”

Fusica sent in this pic this morning and reports that at the Dairy Queen site has finally begun after months of remaining vacant.

The building s being demolished to make way for the Trinity Triangle mixed-use project, which at last report will contain a DQ operated by the same owners who ran the stand-alone location.

The Trinity Triangle was originally set to break ground in June/July but development was held up by storm water requirements.  Last month the city commission voted to allow use of the water detention vault at Beacon Hill.