Month: August 2015

MM: Arts at the Book Fest, Diversity Conversation Photos, and a Foliage Map

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  • Art DBF to bring plentiful free performances to Decatur Book Festival [AJC]
  • Photos: Decatur hosts diversity conversation [Decaturish]
  • Photo Gallery: Revival, Friday at 5 p.m. [Eater]
  • Farm Burger Plans To Open New California, Huntsville and Nashville locations [TNT]
  • Glimpses inside Ponce City Market [A Simpler Design]
  • Streetcar will accept MARTA Breeze Card [Saporta Report]
  • The only fall foliage map you’ll ever need [Smoky Mountains]

Porchfest Monday: Approaching 100 Porches/Artists!

Here’s your weekly update on progress towards the Oakhurst Porchfest, our fully crowdsourced, grassroots music festival coming to south of the tracks on Sunday, October 18.

And quite the update it is, as porches and performer sign-ups run literally neck and neck: 96 of each, as of this writing. That’s entering epic territory.

Among them is an increasingly diverse array of styles, from one of our downtown church’s bell choirs to a master of Irish Uilleann pipes to an ensemble that describes themselves as “Earth’s first genetically-modified punk rock band.”

Plus, of course, a good dose of Americana. To that end, this week we feature Jackson County Line performing “One More Kiss”.

As with last week, there’s still time to get in on all this. If you live in Oakhurst, sign up your porch. If you’re a musician from anywhere at all, sign up to play. Then spread the word to keep our momentum going. Everything you need can be found HERE.

Could Decatur McDonald’s One Day Be a Park?

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A recent AJC blurb about potential future greenspaces in Decatur, includes a very interesting note at the end…

The biggest surprise is that [Asst. City Manager Lyn Menne’s] talked to the owners of McDonald’s on Commerce Drive, which the city would like to convert into green space and a gateway to downtown. Menne emphasized, however, this is a much longer-term goal, perhaps even part of a 40-year plan.

The McDonald’s currently occupies a large corner lot at Commerce Drive and Church Street.  The city has long had big plans of road diets, bike lanes and all kinds of new features to make Commerce Drive, Clairemont Ave and Church Street more bike/pedestrian friendly.

The article also mentions the city’s “longtime interest in purchasing the entire 5 acres owned by the Samuel L. Jones Boys & Girls Club” and the potential to purchase AT&T’s property between New Street and Talley Street, as has previous been mentioned here.

Photo courtesy of Google Streetview

At Home: July Market Snapshot, $236k in Atlanta, & Micro Apartments

Home Features by State

  • Atlanta Real Estate Market Snapshot – July 2015 [Atlanta Board of Realtors]
  • What Does Median Home Price of $236,000 Buy in Atlanta and in Other US Cities? [CNN Money]
  • Top Home Features: What’s the Signature Feature in Your State? [Realtor.com]
  • Search Your Home for Unused Square Footage: Adding 1000 Sq. Ft. of Living Space [Domino]
  • Kitchen Remodel: Which Big-Box Store Offers the Best Service and Biggest Selection? [Consumer Reports]
  • Atlanta Getting Its First “Micro” Apartments at Emory Point [ABC]

 

Brought to you by 4wallsrealty.  For regular updates on Atlanta real estate, home & garden tips, and more Like our Facebook page.

Infographic courtesy of Realtor.com.

Bruce Roaden Takes New Position at CSD; Karen Newton Becomes 4/5 Principal

From City Schools of Decatur…

Dr. Edwards announced today that Mr. Bruce Roaden will take the position of Secondary Education Director for City Schools of Decatur.  In a statement issued today, Dr. Edwards said, “In the summer, just prior to school starting, I posted and interviewed for a position that is needed at the Central Office. Mr. Bruce Roaden, who has been a Principal with CSD for the last ten years, applied and is the front-runner for the position.  With the SLT’s support, I will promote Mr. Roaden to the Central Office position.  Mr. Roaden assisted me in the “turn around” of Renfroe Middle School.  It is now recognized as one of the best middle schools in the state of Georgia.  He has been a principal for 23 years and also taught at the college level.  He has also completed his work to become a Certified School Improvement Specialist.”

The Director of Secondary Education will assist Dr. Edwards in the mentoring and supervision of two Principals.  “The position is also necessary as the system prepares for the upcoming SACS review,” Dr. Edwards said.  “I need someone who has had the experience of being a Principal at the secondary level and who understands the instructional direction and initiatives of the City Schools of Decatur.”

Dr. Edwards also announced, “With the SLT’s blessing, I will promote Ms. Karen Newton to Principal at the 4/5 and Mr. Rodney Thomas as the Assistant Principal.  Ms. Newton has been a key figure in the development of the International Baccalaureate Programme since Dr. Gloria Lee assisted my vision in the opening of the 4/5 Academy.  Mr. Rodney Thomas has been the Dean of Studen
ts at the 4/5 Academy for 9 years and an
important figure in advancing the positive spirit of the school.  These twopeople are outstanding educators and leaders.  They have worked diligently for CSD students, parents and teachers. “

Las Brasas Reopening: What We Know & Don’t Know

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I know many of you are very anxious for Las Brasas to reopen.  You want info.  You want your Peruvian chicken.

Well, we haven’t seen or heard of an exact opening date yet, but the website was recently updated and there IS some new info on there if you take a couple of minutes and look around.  Well, we took a couple of minutes and here’s what we figured out.

  1.  It’s opening “very soon” – an note from two days ago on Las Brasas’ Facebook page states, “Las Brasas has been prepping the most delicious food and awesome space ever…we promise we will be opening very soon! Patience young padawan. Thank you all for your support! We can’t wait to serve you.”  Also a comment on Reddit back in mid August that says the owner, Mike, is projecting a late August/Early September opening.  So it sounds like we’re nearly there!
  2. Open for dinner at least – The hours of operation on the website  are as follows:
    • Monday-Thursday 5pm-11pm
    • Friday-Saturday 5pm-12am
    • Sunday 4pm-9pm
  3. General food offering info?  There’s no menu posted yet.  I know, I know.  You all love to peruse menus.  BUT there are descriptions of three distinct types of peruvian cuisine on the new website’s main page…
    • Anticuchos (Peruvian Barbecue) is a popular dish that originated in Peru in the pre-Columbian era. Anticuchos can be found on street-carts and street food stalls (anticucheras). The meat may be marinated in vinegar and spices (such as cumin, ají pepper and garlic) – While anticuchos can be made of any type of meat, the most popular are made of beef heart (anticuchos de corazón).
    • Cebiche is a seafood dish popular in the coastal regions of Central and South America. The dish is typically made from fresh raw fish cured in citrus juices, such as lemon or lime, and spiced with ají or chili peppers – the exact algorithms for the marinade are often jealously guarded and shrouded in secrecy. Cebiche is usually accompanied by side dishes that complement its flavors, such as potatoes or corn.
    • Peruvian chicken differs from the typical spit-roasted bird through the emphasis of charcoal and live fire, which impart a smokier, more woodsy flavor than a gas oven or electric heating element. It’s seasoned with a marinade comprised of spices like garlic, cumin, paprika, black pepper, huacatay (Peruvian black mint) and others.

Photo courtesy of Las Brasas Facebook Page