Eddie’s Attic put Decatur on the map in terms of the national folk/acoustic music scene. I adore Eddie’s and I consider myself spoiled by the quality of shows there — I’ve been known to slip out of the house and up to Eddie’s on a Wednesday night to sit in a corner in the back with a beer, enjoy the heck out of a show, and be home by 9:45. I’m excited to see what the new owners might do with the space, and I am thrilled that Eddie Owen’s renewed involvement will ensure that the Attic will continue to honor the purpose it has served in support of national touring artists.

There is little room on its busy stage, however, for the many accomplished musicians we have homegrown right here. When I was an Agnes Scott student, Eddie was still a bartender at the Trackside, where I would go to hear the likes of local artists such as the Indigo Girls, Kristin Hall, and Michelle Malone. I loved it there, and I also loved going across the street to the Freight Room to hear folks like Cyndi Craven and Tom Wolf, two Atlanta acoustic mainstays who still perform in the area.

Those days are long gone, but still there is something about Decatur that wants to clear a space for the incredible muslcal talent that’s being cultivated right here at home. We are crawling with great music. It’s just a little hard to find sometimes.

It’s not so hard, though, on Tuesday nights. An actual local music scene is taking root right around the center of the city. Thinking back to a suggestion in John Kessler’s recent piece on Decatur’s dining scene that a wonderful, leisurely evening might be made of exploring the terrific culinary options the city has to offer, wouldn’t it be fun if a similar set of musical riches were to emerge?

Maybe we are well on our way. Three venues, all within a half-mile of one another around the square, are now hosting lively sessions on Tuesday nights. At these places you can find some of the best musical talent Atlanta has to offer. It’s well worth taking one night to explore all three, or to spread the joy over three weeks. Who knows? You might even find yourself setting aside your Tuesday evenings to walk up to the square and hear some music in a relaxed, comfortable setting. None of these are “open jams” or “open mics;” each promises — or even exceeds — performances that you would hear on a professional stage. Are you ready for a quick tour?

Twain’s Jazz Jam

Joe Gransden kicked off his Tuesday night jams at Twain’s Billiards and Tap on Trinity in April 2008, and it didn’t take long for this session to gain a reputation as one of the best jazz jams in Atlanta. Joe is well known in Atlanta and especially Decatur as a trumpeter and band leader par excellence, and his Tuesday nights at Twain’s draw some incredible local talent, including regulars pianist Tyrone Jackson, bassist Craig Shaw, drummer Chris Burroughs, trombone player Wes Funderburk . . . the list just goes on and on. Mosey in around 9:00, order a beer, then sit back and prepare to be blown away for several hours by the stunning musicianship on that stage. Here’s an example — a nearly nine-minute take on “Caravan” featuring Clarence Johnson on sax, Wes Funderburk on trombone, Tyrone Jackson on keys, Craig Shaw on bass, and Chris Burroughs on drums.

Marlay House Celtic Jam

If you’re called to something a little more Celtic, then jig on down to the Marlay House on Ponce for the terrific Irish sessions with, yes indeed, some of the best Celtic and acoustic players the Atlanta area has to offer. This jam, which gets rolling around 8 p.m., has been a lively weekly event since about 2009. Members of the Buddy O’Reilly Band (well known for their leading role in Atlanta’s Celtic Christmas performance), and renowned traditional players such as Moira Nelligan (fiddle player and vocalist) and Tim Cape (fiddle), Barbara Panter and Whit Connah of Hair of the Dog, and a host of other accomplished musicians circle ’round in a generous front corner booth and play unplugged. Sometimes the Irish step dancers put in an appearance, too. Later into the evening, around 10 or 10:30, the music strays from its traditional Irish bent into American old-time, swing, blues, even Cajun. Find a table near the front for a good spot to watch and listen. Here’s a segment that WPBA produced on the Marlay House jam not long ago.

Java Monkey’s Tuesday Night String Club

A Marlay House session may leave you wanting to more fully explore Decatur’s acoustic offerings. Hie thee off, then, to Java Monkey on Church Street, for the Tuesday Night String Club. Since January 2010, here have gathered some of the area’s most accomplished songwriters and players, who bring out their guitars, ukuleles, mandolins, cellos — there’s even a concertina and a piano pretty regularly — for an evening of showcases, collaborations, experimentations, and playing for the pure pleasure of it. Among the regulars are local favorites Ben Wakeman, Cyndi Craven, Ashley Filip, Billy Gewin, Bruce Gilbert, Bob Bakert, Jerry Brunner, Lindsay Petsch, Daniel Lipton, and Atlanta newcomer and former Nitty Gritty Dirt Band member, John Cable. Take your glass of wine or brew and your hunk of Southern Sweets cake out onto the patio and settle in with this intrepid and entertaining gang. Here’s a sampling of a few minutes of a recent Tuesday Night String Club evening, featuring John Cable, Lindsay Petsch, and Daniel Lipton.

 

Justin wrote in around 3am this morning to report that Java Monkey had just been robbed and that he had spoken with an employee at Decatur Diner who “said she saw the guy running away and the diner is without power.”  He continued, “a Java Monkey employee and a friend came by and the friend said they just happened to be in the area, heard the alarm and chased the guy to the mini Kroger where they lost him. I overlook Kroger from my condo and there are several cop cars around.”

I followed up with Decatur PD this morning and Deputy Chief Keith Lee just provided this detailed report of this incident, which confirms nearly everything in Justin’s report, though luckily it sounds like the burglar was unsuccessful in gaining entry to the coffee shop …

On 12-27-11 at 0232 hours, Sergeant Canipe was dispatched to a suspicious male leaving Java Monkey coffee shop located at 425 Church Street. This establishment has been burglarized a few times during the last month so officers responded quickly. Canipe arrived at 0234 hours and checked the exterior of Java Monkey. The power to the building, which includes Decatur Diner, had been turned off. Within the patio area, Canipe observed a large rock approximately 8″ x 12″ on the floor next to a glass panel. The glass had been cracked; however, it did not fully break, therefore, the perpetrator did not gain entry. Also next to the rock was a brown aluminum pole approximately 5 feet long.

Canipe met with the complainant, Brannon Greene, who is an employee of Java Monkey, who told the officer he had closed up earlier in the evening but returned to the coffee shop because he thought he forgot his cellular phone. Greene said he was walking toward the front door when he saw flood lights illuminated within the business and heard a strange beeping sound. Greene became suspicious and approached with caution. Prior to reaching the front door, Greene said he observed a black male with a light complexion exit the patio area (which is enclosed with plastic tarp) and run north on Church Street then east on East Ponce de Leon Avenue. Greene said the black male was approximately 6’0″ and weighed approximately 180 pounds, wearing dark pants and a dark, possibly green down (puffy) jacket that came down to about mid thigh. Greene said he gave chase, along with his roommate, Michael Koechlin, as Greene dialed 911. Greene said the suspect ran across East Ponce de Leon Avenue then north around the Wells Fargo building. Greene lost sight of the suspect as he continued east, possibly across Commerce Drive toward the Decatur Cemetery. Greene returned to Java Monkey to meet with officers.

Canipe collected the pole left behind by the suspect and placed it into evidence at Decatur Police Department. The glass panel was photographed. Greene was given a business card and case number.

From CNN…

The new Coffee Party movement deemed its official kickoff Saturday a “huge success,” with dozens of talks held at coast-to-coast coffee shops as members came together to discuss the issues most important to them.

…At Java Monkey in Decatur, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta, coordinator Stacey Hopkins said turnout far exceeded expectations, with around 60 people participating at the “very productive” meeting where health care reform was the overriding issue.

“We had kids there, we had college students, high school students, and we had retirees,” she said. “It went across a very broad spectrum age wise and racially, and this is that we’d like to see.”

And while many will immediately assume that this is a more highly caffeinated, liberal reaction to the grassroots Tea Party Movement, the movement’s online home states that “Coffee Party USA aims to reinvigorate the public sphere, drawing from diverse backgrounds and diverse perspectives, with the goal of expanding the influence of the People in America’s political arena.”

Read the rest of this entry »

Steve sends in a pic documenting the creation of  a “crazy new fence” that will soon grace the patio of Java Monkey.  He notes its a Kris Gunderson design.

Announcement by Java Monkey’s Owner, Jess, thru Random Oenophile…

Help Amy and Leah!
Amy Sarrell, longtime JAVAMONKEY employee, and Leah Helfen were riding Leah’s scooter when they were hit by an SUV on Jun 7th. At present, both of these wonderful ladies are still at Grady.

On July 3rd, JAVAMONKEY is holding a fund raising event to help cover Amy and Leah’s medical and living expenses while they recover. Gently (formerly My Siamese Self), The Bangers, and It’s Elephants will be playing, from 8pm-11pm. We will have $3.00 beers and $5.00 glasses of wine until they run out. Also there will be a silent auction with art donated by Pandra Williams, Bill Mayer, Laura Hull, and others, and goods, and gift certificates from JAVAMONKEY, Brickstore, Twain’s, Mingei, Taste, Squash Blossom, Decatur School of Ballet, Little Shop of Stories, and more!

Community MATTERS.

From a comment by “none” in the original post on the subject…

“The condition of the two is better. The two girls were Leah Helfen and Amy Sarrell. Leah is having surgery to fix up a compound fracture and Amy was still in intensive care on Tuesday, but should get moved into a room with Leah in the next few days.
Leah had just the fracture while Amy had a compound fracture in her leg as well as two broken Vertebrae (but not her spinal column, thank goodness!).
There will be multiple fundraisers to help cover the costs that the two will be facing, although the other drivers insurance should cover most things.
If you would like to donate, there is a fund set up at Decatur first bank, just ask for the Amy and Leah fund.
Also, there is a collection at the Java Monkey where Amy works.
Thank you for all your well wishes!”

I’m so glad to hear that neither sustained injuries that they cannot eventually heal from.  Here’s to a speedy recovery!

A year ago, the sky seemed to be the limit for Starbucks. Plans for 40,000 stores worldwide were met with some skepticism, but most seemed to think if anyone could do it, it would be Starbucks.

But then, as 2007 got into full swing, the wheels started to come off.

It became apparent that while Starbucks still had tremendous growth opportunities overseas, things were very different on the domestic front. Same store sales data seemed to show over-saturation and the stock fell 40%. The once trendy status symbol, which I once heard described as a “four-dollar Mercedes”, wasn’t so trendy anymore.

Others looked past the saturation argument and instead blamed the quality of the product. These folks accused the fully-automated machines that could better handle the growing lines at the counter, but removed much of the “je ne sais qua” that the friendly, but fiendishly busy Barista provided.

Regardless of the reason, in 2008, Starbucks is looking to reinvent itself. CEO superstar Howard Schultz is back in the saddle and has promised that the company will return to its roots. That means no more hot breakfast sandwiches, which were being tested in many metropolitan areas, as well as many other secret plans not yet revealed.

So, after that brief recap here’s the question of the morning: Do you think Starbucks can pull it off?

If the coffee chain were to revert back to a time when their service was more personalized and focused on the coffee, would you make a point to stop on the Square a grab a cup? Or are the Decatur coffee animals (Java MONKEY or Dancing GOATS) more your style? Perhaps you just prefer to brew your own…