Free-For-All Friday 2/19/16

Feel free to use this post to make comments and ask questions about local topics not yet discussed here over the past week.

Sorry it’s a bit late today!

54 thoughts on “Free-For-All Friday 2/19/16”


    1. It’s 11:15 AM and there are four posts on the FFAF page. Sorta looks like the bloom is off this rose.

      1. Lots of people off this week.
        I’m very glad to have this forum to connect with other Decaturites.

    1. I’ve sold some gold at the Decatur City Jewelers shop on Clairemont. The owner is really nice and gave a better price than the other places I checked. Don’t know about diamonds.

  8. Curious if anyone knows the status of the intersection “rebuild” at college and McDonough (over the train track). I thought that was supposed to begin in early 2016?

  10. Does anyone know of a good landscaper with reasonable prices? We want to have the back yard professionally leveled and graded, plus sod/seed put in.

    1. I’ve used Daniel Ballard at http://www.convivialgardens.org/ . He is local, comes loaded with great suggestions, and is great to work with.

  12. Girl Scout Troop 12566 will be selling cookies on the square tomorrow from 11-2. Come get your fix if you don’t have a girl scout living in your house.

  14. The joys of remodeling!
    Looking for hardwood flooring crew — sanding and staining needed.
    Also, anyone ever replace a bitumen roof?

    1. Used Checkmate Flooring this past summer. Owner is mike boean. Communicative, fair price. Efficient. A few issues (nicked a cabinet in the kitchen–although they painted over it, it’s not how I would have handled. No one else notices it, but I do {because I’m nutty that way}). Our floors were in bad shape. Original 1952 with different color 1990s wood in kitchen. They match beautifully.

    2. We have a crew in our renovation on Wisteria as I write this. They’ll be in there much of next week. We have a combination of refinishing 100 year old floors, feathering in some repair work, and laying some brand new. We’re using the folks at Peach Design. http://www.peachdesigninc.com/

      Feel free to stop by and stick your head in. 2234 Wisteria Way in Kirkwood. Just a few blocks from the Oakhurst Dog Park. I think they’ll be working tomorrow (Saturday) as well.

      1. Onyx, to be specific. The Goodyear is behind McDonald’s as well, but I don’t think they fix phone screens.

    2. I’ve liked Onyx for both PC and Mac repairs; didn’t know they do phones too. For phones, there’s also a good place up next to the Best Buy near Northlake Mall.

    3. I was reminded that Progressive Methods on E Ponce just past Sams Crossing also does that kind of thing/

  18. How come there are no bagel places in COD? There are 5 within a mile or two of Emory but none that I have found worth returning to in COD. Would die for some smoked salmon on a fresh everything bagel. Anyone share the need for seed (Sesame)?

    1. Couldn’t agree more. The best deal (and bagels) in town? IMHO — it’s Einstein Bros. on N. Druid Hills. 13 bagels for $6.00 every Monday! Lots of specials via email when you join their Shmear Society. How great would it be to have them open a location in Decatur?!

      1. Long time ago, there used to be an Einsteins in the shopping center where Community Barbecue is. It was a mecca for families. Staff said it closed because of poor management, not lack of demand.

        I have wanted a true NYC bagel place in Decatur for so long that I’ve stopped hoping.

        1. Yes, a true NYC bagel place would be great. FWIW, Einstein’s bagels, though tasty, bear no resemblance to NY bagels. Their texture is that of a roll, not a bagel. Goldberg’s are closer.

          1. I just drive to Bagel Palace in Toco every Saturday morning for a dozen. Wish something that good was closer!

            2. Bagel Palace is the best!

              Hot take: Einsteins is not a quality bagel place. Its a chain that makes rubbish “bagels”.

              1. Agree that Einstein’s bagels are not bona-fide NYC style bagels but they are fresh and not hockey pucks which puts them ahead of 90% of Atlanta bagels. Kids find them fairly tasty. After having lived in NYC, I rarely find a bagel anywhere else to be genuine, not even in Los Angeles. Maybe the upstate NY reservoir system water is a critical ingredient.

        2. Before Einstein’s there was a local bagel shop in the same space that was really good (can’t remember the name). Rumor was that Einsteins bought them out to snuff out the competition.

          1. Bagelicious, maybe? I used to go there a lot. Good bagels and great waitresses who called you honey and remembered what you ordered the week before.

    2. Kavarna in Oakhurst serves Emerald City bagels. I agree that this is sort of an untapped market, locally speaking. Might be hard to justify the rents in Decatur with something that won’t do a stiff business all day long?
      https://www.facebook.com/emcbagels/?hc_location=ufi

    3. There was an extensive bagel thread on the Oakhurst Facebook page recently. It would be great if there was a place to pick up half a dozen decent bagels in this town without breaking the bank. Emerald City bagels from Cabbagetown are excellent Long Island style, but they are $2.50 each. Kavarna carries them. I often get a bagel with a schmear for $2.40 at Pastries a Go Go. Their bagels come from H&H Bagels in New York City; they are flash frozen before shipping, but they are pretty tasty. I lived near one of the H&H stores in the early 80s and bought there often, but I would kill for a Kossar’s bialy.
      Your best bet is to trek over to Toco Hill and visit Royal Bagel

      1. In Toco Hill you have the choice of Bagel Palace or Goldberg’s. Both are real bagels. Royal Bagel was in midtown but left many years ago. Sadly.

        1. If I had to choose the means of my demise, a sackful of Goldberg’s asiago cheese bagels would be pretty good way to go.

      1. +1 to Sweet Melissa’s. BIL had one there–nive upstairs place.

        You might also try Duc’s Cosmic Kitchen. There aren’t any thrills, but it’s a private room and they are such good cooks!

      2. +1 for Parkers. We held ours there and it couldn’t have been better. They’re so flexible with seating arrangements, decoration, and are experts at planning. Delicious food goes without saying.

  22. What’s the deal with the Farmers Market expansion? Are they going to only build a massive retaining wall?

  26. Just noticed sidewalk benches along Commerce in front of new apartments are on street side and face the building rather than being on the building side and facing the street (pretty sure the latter is more common for downtown). Not sure which view is less appealing, but configuration seem strange to anyone else?

    And has the city changed the recommended streetlight style?

    1. Not positive but I believe the code only calls for the specific items, how many (benches, trashcans, etc.), and in what areas of the sidewalk they can be placed, but it doesn’t dictate whether or not you’re building-side looking out or curb-side looking in (or looking out, for that matter). For example, there’s a bench in front of Barre Fitness on Church that’s curbside, even though it’s been there for a long time.

      As for the street lamp, Decatur has three style designations — downtown, Oakhurst, and East Decatur Station. Each is different. The lamps you reference are the Oakhurst style and were installed by Georgia Power in error. The proper lamps are on order and will be swapped out soon.

      1. Thanks. I’d noticed that bench on Church as well – has more of a bus stop waiting area feel in that curb-side location. Somehow the building-side location on Commerce seems a little “safer” even if that portion of the road will have a bike lane along the curb eventually.

        Disappointing that the city has allowed them to start renting without requiring them to re-open that curb-side lane to bike and/or auto traffic. And with work on the upper stories of the facade still going on, not sure how it’s completely occupancy-ready for the tenants entering and exiting directly onto the sidewalk.

  28. Anyone else see/hear the large flock of sandhill cranes pass over Decatur Saturday afternoon? Quite a spectacle. They circled as though they may have roosted at Lullwater.

    1. Wish I’d gotten to see them. It’s that time of year. They’re headed north and often seem to circle and re-group over the Decatur area.

  30. Decatur Heights Neighborhood Association Meeting!
    Tuesday, Feb 23 at 7pm*
    Community Room of The Church at Decatur Heights, 735 Sycamore Drive

    Join us for a Town Hall with City Commissioners on What’s Ahead in 2016 and the latest in neighborhood related news. The DHNA is also seeking statements of interest for the two At-Large board positions. The DHNA is YOUR Voice for your neighborhood.

    For meeting info or new PayPal option for membership, please visit: http://yourdhna.com/

    * Doors will open at 6:30pm for membership enrollment

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