From Decatur’s Public Information Officer Casie Yoder…

Decatur’s newest culinary destination is online: DecaturRestaurant-Tour.com. The website offers video tours in addition to personal interviews with six of the city’s most popular chefs and restauranteurs. “Decatur offers a unique combination of trends and traditions, from contemporary cafes to dining landmarks” according to Linda Harris, who handles communication for the City and is the Executive Director of the Decatur Tourism Bureau. She believes this was a major reason for Decatur being named one of “America’s top Foodie Cities” by Southern Living Magazine. “The videos felt like an authentic way to experience the ambience, signature dishes and personalities that give each eatery its own flavor.”

Phase one of the website is live with six videos hosted by Mary Moore, the popular chef-turned-retailer behind Decatur’s Cook’s Warehouse. Mary visits No. 246, Leon’s Full Service, The Iberian Pig, Cafe Alsace, Steinbeck’s and Cafe Lily. Her knowledge and experience bring interesting insights to the subject of creative cuisine. Moore explained “the videos are an ideal way to show dimensions of a restaurant you just can’t get from listings or review sites. Preparing food has a lot to do with creative expression, and the personal interviews give a better understanding of this.”

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This is pretty cool.

The new issue of the Decatur Focus reports that the old Emil Baran and DeKalb Musicians Supply spaces on Clairemont Avenue have been purchased by Atlanta Hawks player, Zaza Pachulia, a native of the Republic of Georgia.  According to the Focus, Pachulia plans “to house an art gallery and a center that celebrates the art and culture of the Georgian Republic.”

The Decatur Tourism Bureau plans “to finalize a lease on the smaller space to house a “Decatur Visitors Center” and provide office space and a small gallery for the Decatur Arts Alliance.”

The city’s Linda Harris sends along this press release…

The Decatur Tourism Bureau recently hired Sherry Jackman as the Visitors Center Manager. Sherry is a Decatur resident who has been in the travel and tourism business for the past 20 years.

In 1995, Sherry co-founded Conyers Travel and grew the business from a start-up to over $1.5 million in sales within three years. She managed large corporate accounts, including a professional umpire’s league for the American Basketball League, the American Heart Association and Snapple Beverages, group tours as well as individual travelers and managed a staff of five travel agents.

While in Conyers, Sherry was active in the community, serving on the board for two non-profits. She served as Vice President of Project Renewal, a domestic violence shelter and intervention facility and Rockdale Emergency Relief, which supported families with unexpected emergencies. She chaired several fund raising activities including a golf tournament which raised over $25,000 – the largest in its history to that date.

Sherry was also an active member of the Conyers Kiwanis Club and served on their Board of Directors, the Rockdale Chamber of Commerce serving on several fund raising committees, and was nominated as Small Business Person of the Year in 2002.

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After the jump, you’ll find details on the top four budget priorities for Decatur’s Community & Economic Development Department (pages 10-15 of the Budget Narrative doc).  Here’s a top level summary…

1. Priority One: Complete the Update of the City’s Website.
2. Priority Two: Partner with the Tourism Bureau and the Decatur Downtown Development Authority to target advertising and marketing to attract visitors, support programs to retain existing retail and restaurant businesses and maintain clean, attractive and inviting commercial districts
3. Priority  Three: Develop A Community Arts Master Plan.
4. Priority Four: Purchase new, [small electric truck] for Parking Enforcement.

The Arts Master Plan description sounds especially intriguing.  It specifically mentions the new, centrally located auditorium at DHS and Agnes Scott’s desire to “make certain” that in expanding and improving their own arts facilities, they incorporate the community’s arts needs and identify “possible opportunities for developing joint-use off-campus facilities”.

The mind tingles with anticipation to know what these potential “off-campus facilities” could be.

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