Just a reminder to all Decatur area residents:

Eat out tonight at Avellino’s, The Nook, Fox Bros. BBQ, and Smith’s Olde Bar and help Atlanta Police Detective Pat Apoian, who was run over last week during a traffic stop just outside of the Decatur City Limits.   The Nook, Fox Bros and Smith’s will be donating 15% of all sales, while Avellino’s will donate 20% and all tips.

The AJC has a nice write up on it today and cites DAVE-FM’s Rich “Sully” Sullivan for helping organize the event.

Photo courtesy of WSB

Pizza, cycling and Decatur PD?  Sounds like a Decaturite magnet to me!

From the good folks at Decatur PD (via Steve)…

Decatur PD has three officers who will be participating in the 2011 Police Unity Tour which is a 300 mile bike ride from New Jersey to Washington DC in May.  The primary purpose of the Police Unity Tour is to raise awareness of Law Enforcement Officers who have died in the line of duty. The secondary purpose is to raise funds for the National Law Enforcement Officer’s Memorial and Museum.

Join police officers from Atlanta and Decatur and enjoy the best pizza in Atlanta next Tuesday, March 29th in an effort to raise money for the Law Enforcement Memorial Ride/Police Unity Tour at Avellino’s located at 902 West College Avenue, Decatur, GA 30030 from 4pm-10pm.  Officers will be serving customers at this event.  Avellino’s will be donating back a percentage of sales to the Unity Tour. So eat in, take out, or have some food delivered.  This event supports a local business and a great cause!

And if anyone wants to directly support one of the Decatur Officers riding in this year’s Police Unity Tour, here are the links.

http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/dana-canipe/2011-police-unity-tour

http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/axel-fiksman/2011-police-unity-tour-1

http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/andrea-sibley/2011-police-unity-tour

Apparently the ever-present “Coming Soon” sign that’s been sitting in front of Avellino’s location on College will soon be coming down.

Carl forwards this morning’s Daily Candy, which talks about Avellino’s as if it will open tomorrow.  Didn’t look like it last night, so I guess they’re just applying the finishing touches at this point.

Traditional Italian cuisine is the name of the game here: pizza, pasta and Peroni on tap.  As a guy with Italians all over his family tree, I make no qualms about my high expectations for any new traditional Italian food joint.   Hopefully Avellino’s will come through for us, and I can move on to my next brick-and-mortar food lust, an Italian bakery.