Now you can do it legally!  (CLICK HERE to go right to the pics)

The Wall Street Journal ran a story on Friday about the Indigo Girls’ Emily Saliers Decatur home, reflecting on her large, enviable kitchen, recording studio and 2,000 bottle wine cellar.  As for Decatur itself, here’s what Saliers has to say…

Previously living in the Druid Hills section of Atlanta, Ms. Saliers said she decided to move to Decatur about a decade ago. “I love Decatur. It is diverse, politically progressive, family oriented and I can walk everywhere,” she said. She said it was the kitchen that convinced her to buy her current 2,888-square-foot home for $640,000 in 2001. A five-bedroom, four-bathroom home nearby built this year is currently on the market for $679,000.

Ah, to have bought a Decatur home in 2001.  Some people get all the breaks!

From John Kessler’s Food and More blog…

Today Watershed restaurant in Decatur announces the appointment of chef Joe Truex as its new chef and operating partner. He replaces Scott Peacock, who left the restaurant in February after 11 years, to pursue a documentary film project and begin working on a memoir. Truex, who has run Repast restaurant with his wife, Mihoko Obunai-Truex for the past four years, will assume the position June 1.

Both Truex, who currently resides in Decatur, and managing partner Emily Saliers relay to Kessler that changing up the menu more frequently will be a key component of evolving the restaurant in a post-Peacock era.

Watershed has an official press release on their website.

For even more info on Truex check out his now former restaurant Repast’s menu HERE.  Additionally, Kessler wrote an extensive profile of Truex for the AJC just this past March, after traveling with the chef to his hometown in Louisiana.

In the midst of helping young Decatur musician Sydney Rhame win $1,000 from Kudzu last year, we also promoted “Girls Rock Camp”, a start-up non-profit founded by “long-time Decaturites” that assists young girls in starting bands and creating original music.

Well, this year the organization is hosting a three day event for the 19 and older crowd!  “Ladies Rock Camp” is limited to 25 participants and will be held at Atlanta Charter Middle School features a culminating performance at L5P’s Five Spot and a songwriting workshop with the Indigo Girls Emily Saliers.

No prior musical experience is necessary and tuition is just $350!

For more info, check out the full press release after the jump or head on over to the Ladies Rock Camp page on the Girls Rock Camp website.

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MyATLtv has a statement from the Indigo Girls’ Emily Saliers on the destruction of Trackside.

“I was very sad to learn about the fire at Trackside. Eddie Owen (of Eddie’s Attic) was running Trackside when he asked me and Amy to come play there, many years ago. We considered Trackside part of our home base and had many wonderful nights playing there, crammed up in the corner, with our other Atlanta musician friends, having a blast. More recently, Trackside had been a place to just stop in for a beer and a couple games of pool or darts and hang out with the locals, listening to the jukebox, or watching sports on the television. I feel like I have lost an old friend just as, I am sure, many others do as well.”

Emily sure is right.   On this site alone, in addition to 49 heartfelt comments,  the original DM Trackside/5th Earl fire post has thus far received an astonishing 7,500 hits, with an incredible 4,397 people viewing it on the very first day.  Also, over 700 people have clicked over to Facebook to view pics of the damage.  Incredible.

Hopefully, this obvious widespread concern by residents across Atlanta provides some comfort to the owners and employees of these two well-loved Decatur spots as they attempt to pick up the pieces and determine next steps.