So what is this new “Featured Events Calendar”?

Well, beyond the obvious (uh…it’s a Google Calendar), it’s just the latest step in Decatur Metro’s ongoing evolution.  Just like recent additions like “Free-For-All Friday”, this calendar responds to demand.  Not only from countless readers who have suggested something similar in the past, but also from local businesses and organizations looking for ways to get their events in front of local eyeballs.  (That’s you!)

All of this came to a head a couple months ago after I launched our wonderful “local ads”, and I started hearing from more and more businesses that were interested in getting some local exposure through DM, but also needed a platform to display events on a regular basis.  A physical ad might be a good start, but some businesses also wanted a more topical platform.

So, after brainstorming a bit with a few key local players, this calendar was born.

Read the rest of this entry »

Mandated reflection time!

Anyone want to take a guess at the top 10 DM posts of 2009? (And by “top” I mean, “most clicked on”.)

Hint:  Top posts often times have a lot of comments, because obviously you have to click on a post to see comments, but that isn’t a hard and fast rule.  There are other ways to be #1.

Whatcha got?

As you may have noticed, Decatur Metro now sports a new section in the right sidebar that features local sponsors/advertisers.

That’s right!  Decatur Metro is now offering advertising opportunities to businesses looking to gain exposure to a local Decatur/Atlanta audience.  If you’re a business interested in learning more about advertising on DM, stop by DM’s new “Advertise” page or shoot me an email at and I will be happy to forward along our ad-rate sheet.

This has been a huge undertaking and I want to thank my first advertisers, the DDA, Little Shop of Stories, Decatur First Bank, Heliotrope and The Wren’s Nest, along with my wife and the great folks at Lampe-Farley Communications, who helped get this months-long effort off the ground.  There is a real desire among many local businesses for an outlet to advertise to their target audience at a reasonable price.  Decatur Metro hopes to fill that niche and develop a sustainable business model for itself in the process.

Now, just a couple of housekeeping items.  With the addition of this new section in the sidebar, I’ve had to make a few adjustments on the site.

Read the rest of this entry »

In what is surely a first in Decatur, if not metro Atlanta, Decatur Metro will host an online debate/forum on this site between the four city commission candidates on Wednesday, October 21st from 8p-9:30p.

DM will use the same live-blog “Cover it Live” program that was employed during the Decatur Book Festival to host an interactive live debate between candidates Fred Boykin, Patti Garrett, James Radford, Kyle Williams and the community.

Here’s how it will work.

Read the rest of this entry »

I’m out and about in the world this week, so posting probably won’t be as “clockwork” as usual.   But I will be checking in and posting, so don’t hesitate to send in your news tips!

Maybe we can do a “guess the location” later in the week as well.