2008 was Decatur Metro’s first full year, and man was it a busy and successful one!  Looking back, our city provided us with more than enough to report on and discuss.

Here are the highlights as I saw them, month-by-month…

In January, we discovered the city was looking into annexation and that the 315 W. Ponce development had strong opposition. Also we worried about the expired liquor license plague that spread thru town closing restaurants the city over, including The Angel.

In February we went to the polls on Super Tuesday, wondered where that tornado siren was coming from, and I lamented our lack of a downtown grocery.

In March, the mayor started his own blog, we watched the ING marathon run through town, and the Relax Inn finally came down.

In April, the Blue Jean Bandits hit Boogaloos, Bernard Sims was beaten to death at a Commerce Dr. bus-stop, we got excited about our charter school application, and I griped about the lack of parking in the CVS plaza.

In May, people got all worked up over vending carts on the MARTA plaza, Oakhurst saw its first rash of flat-screen thefts, we were shocked when our charter school app was tabled, Scott proposed a parking contingency plan for 315, and we learned that the Brick Store was turning Rue de Leon into a gastropub.

In June readership really began to spike as we began to hear a chorus of complaints about the YDFM, Kaleidescope was robbed in broad daylight, a two scooter riders were hit on W. Howard, CSD was finally awarded charter status, we crowed about the recorded bird screeches from the top of One West Courthouse Square, saw the deep divide among drivers and bikers as Critical Mass collided with police, and ruminated on suburbs and Atlanta’s gentrification.

In July, we learned the fate of The Angel, discussed misconceptions about MARTA in the ‘burbs, I coined the phrase “Growth Happens. Mange Wisely, spent a lot of time analyzing Decatur traffic patterns, we boiled our water and took showers with Deer Park, I touted Decatur’s need for a food co-op, we discussed restaurant saturation, and the 315 debate continued.

In August, Wordsmiths asked for donations to remain open, we learned we could now recycle 6 and 7 plastics, the ZBA tabled 315, we discovered the extent of Crescent Moon’s recent troubles, and we tackled the Trader Joe’s rumors head-on.

In September, we took YDFM to task again, worried about a fatal wreck on E. Ponce and speeders on W. Howard, broke the story of the Crescent Moon staff rebellion (and got spammed big-time), recommended Chinese food, learned of Otis White, contemplated the city’s most famous resident, and bit our liberal nails at the seeming increase in McCain yard signs.

In October as the economic recession took hold, we asked Decatur’s business owners how things were going, overreacted to the city’s new blog The Decatur Minute, noted that some 315 opponents also had concerns with Trinity Triangle, disagreed over whether the smell at YDFM had lessened, smiled as Moey’s candy voting machine went from a local to national phenomenon, stood in early voting lines, and wondered about pay-by-cell parking meters.

In November, we enjoyed a flare up on Election Day, questioned the status on Decatur’s wi-fi, enjoyed the city’s new “open city hall”, helped an out-of-towner find a restaurant to take his mother on Christmas Day, laughed and cried after winning a “Best of Atlanta” award, considered higher taxes, and took another potshot at Atlantic Station.

In December, we saw the emergence of a vocal opposition to annexation, questioned the annexation student calculations, were shocked by the blatant Fellini’s robbery, pushed to fill Decatur PD’s openings, predicted a “no” vote on annexation from the school board, cheered as Camille kicked some thieving ass, debated the 315 compromise approved by the city commission, approved of a new online contact system set up by the city, got excited as Thumbs Up Diner opened in Crescent Moon’s old space, and rounded out the year with a new DeKalb Farmer’s Market frustration.

Whew! And that’s just the tip of the iceberg! Did I miss anything?

Thanks to all that read, commented, supported and linked to Decatur Metro in 2008! Here’s to an even more exciting and involved 2009!

Cheers,

-DM