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

Little Creek Horse Farm, Decatur GA (pic courtesy of Anuj)

UPDATE: In my ridiculous haste, I thought that I read that tickets went on sale today.  But they actually go on sale NEXT THURSDAY at 10a.  Apologies to all!

The Decatur Book Festival announces that tickets to the keynote and the “kidsnote” will become available starting at 10a next Thursday.

Also, for the planners among you, the full DBF weekend schedule is now available online HERE.  Check it out!

Here are the details on those tickets…

The 2016 Atlanta Journal-Constitution Decatur Book Festival Presented by DeKalb Medical (DBF) will release keynote event tickets to the public at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 4. Cassandra King Conroy, Rick Bragg and other friends and family of late Southern literary icon Pat Conroy will participate in the keynote event, titled “The Life and Works of Pat Conroy,” on Friday, Sept. 2 at 8 p.m. at Emory University’s Schwartz Center for Performing Arts (1700 N. Decatur Road).

Tickets for the keynote event are required, free and limited to two per person. Those seeking tickets to the keynote event can obtain them by visiting the Schwartz Center for Performing Arts, by calling the Arts at Emory Box Office ) or by visiting tickets.arts.emory.edu. Phone and online orders include a $4 processing fee. A limited number of tickets are available at A Cappella Books, Charis Books & More, Eagle Eye Books, Tall Tales Books and Little Shop of Stories.

Anne notes that this new stop sign at Oakview and 5th Ave took her by surprise.

The Decatur Police Department sent out this reminder…

CSD students are headed back to school next Monday, August 1^st.  There will be more traffic to include vehicles, buses and big & little pedestrians and cyclists on main roads and neighborhood streets.  Please plan on allowing more time for your commute and PLEASE slow down and pay extra attention as excited students head back to class.  We will have additional officers on duty in and around the school zones to remind everyone school is back in session.

Reduced speeds for school zones are indicated by either flashing lights and/or signage with the times for the school zone posted.  Flashing lights are not required or posted for every school zone. You must also obey the times indicated by signage posted for school zones.

Atlanta Public Schools will also start back Wednesday, August 3^rd and DeKalb County Schools start back Monday, August 8^th. 

The Decatur Arts Alliance announces a change of location for its popular yea! event that showcases young emerging artists from the area and gives them a platform to market and sell their work…

Saturday, Sept. 24 • Noon-4 pm
Arts event in the newly redesigned Harmony Park in Oakhurst Village.

Artist application (PDF)
Band application (PDF)

Pay for booth fees online here.

Returning for its fourth year, this wildly popular one-day arts event has been embraced by local students grades K-12 as a way to showcase their creativity and talent to the public. Shop at the juried outdoor artists market or enjoy live performances at a stage in Harmony Park at Oakhurst Village!

Tents lining the newly redesigned Harmony Park packed with student artists showing off a bounty of jewelry, paintings, photography, drawings, culinary delights, and handcrafted goods, all for sale.

On a stage in the center of the area is a nonstop line-up of high energy performances from wild-and-wooly rock combos to blues acts, singer-songwriters, soloists, and more.

“The quality of the applications for YEA! continues to amaze us. It’s exciting to see how much talent Decatur students possess,” says Angie Macon, executive director of the Decatur Arts Alliance. “We are so proud to provide a venue that connects our creative students with an arts loving public and get students to consider art as a career.”

The young artists gain practical experience in event organization, marketing, and sales of their art work.

Two years ago, Decatur overhauled its zoning-related regulations — resulting in our present Unified Development Ordinance. One aspect of that effort was the enabling of different types of housing, allowing for residents across a wider economic spectrum.

Many Decatur residents are probably familiar with our now fully allowable Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), which come in the form of basement apartments, granny flats over garages, and backyard cottages. On most residential lots, you can build a separate residence of up to 800 square feet, creating both a middle-income apartment for a relative or tenant and a potential income stream for the owner.

But did you know that Tiny Houses are also allowed? It’s true. So long as they’re constructed on a permanent foundation, Tiny Houses can serve as either an accessory unit or a primary residence.

Don’t go looking for those Tiny Houses you see on HGTV, though. Those are classified as trailers, which, in Decatur, cannot serve as an occupied dwelling. You’ll just have to put down roots and stay a while!

Find out more and get inspired. Here are all the details…

Decatur Tiny House Festival

Saturday, July 30 and Sunday, July 31

An exciting new festival is coming to Decatur! Could you live in 500 square feet or less? For tiny house enthusiasts, the answer is a not-so-small, “YES!” If you’re intrigued by the concept of tiny houses and small space living and want to learn more, join Tiny House Atlanta for the first-ever Decatur Tiny House Festival, July 30 and 31 in downtown Decatur. Approximately10 tiny houses will be available to tour, and experts on topics such as sustainability, minimalism, urban planning, zoning, and downsizing will be on hand to answer your questions.

Here are just a few of the fun and informative activities planned over the course of this 2-day event:

·         Tiny houses will be on-site and open for tours.

·         Vendors will be on hand explaining and promoting sustainable practices in the tiny house movement.

·         Speaker Symposium will offer opportunities to learn from experts in different areas of the industry.

Tickets can be purchased here. A limited number of tickets will be available each day. There are still a limited number of volunteer opportunities available. Complete the volunteer form to sign up.

A portion of the event proceeds will go to the Decatur Housing Initiatives Corporation –a 501(c)(3) nonprofit entity overseen by the Decatur Housing Authority to enable the development of affordable housing, provide supportive services for low income families and children, and enhance opportunities for greater diversity in Decatur.

Image courtesy of GA Tiny Rentals.