Focus September 2008.indd

In This Issue
Focus on Downtown Development ............ 2
CodeRed to Provide Weather Warnings .. 3
Neighborhood Alliance Meeting ................. 4
Woodruff Scholars Adopt E. College Ave... 5
Music on the Square in September ..........7
News from Shops, Restaurants ................ 9
Official Publication of The City of Decatur, Georgia • September 2008 • Volume 19 • Number 2
Garden Tour Celebrates 20 Years........... 13
Groundbreaking Held for Fire Station Two
The Decatur City Commission, community members, architects, contractors, firefighters and other city staff gathered
for the official groundbreaking for the new fire station to
replace Fire Station Two on W. Hill Street.
The project is being funded by the city’s capital bond
program. The City Commission awarded the contract to
the low bidder, Ward General Contractors of Kennesaw, in
the amount of $1,434,000. LP3 Architects of Decatur designed the building, which is expected to be Decatur’s first
LEED certified building.
Construction has begun and is expected to be completed by August 2009.
Mayor Bill Floyd (far left) breaks ground on Fire Station No. 2, with the help of commissioners
(front row, from far right) Jim Baskett, Kecia Cunningham and Mary Alice Kemp
Keep Busy This Autumn! See Decatur Active Living’s PLAYBOOK inside.
Focus on
Downtown
Development
Decatur Gets Activated
T
he Decatur Recreation Department has become the Active
Living Division and has been given the task of developing a
comprehensive program to encourage citizens and downtown
employees to lead more active lifestyles.
This effort involves more than developing traditional recreational programs and
athletic team opportunities. The Active Living Division will work across departmental
lines to improve opportunities for walking
and cycling and develop programs for a
broader range of age groups in the city.
To assist in this effort, the city plans to
establish an Active Living Advisory Board
to develop program ideas and help implement a year-long fitness challenge to get the
community more active.
If you are interested in volunteering for
this advisory board or would like to volunteer to help with fitness activities, contact
Dan Magee, 404-377-0494, or download a
statement of interest form from www.decaturga.com and mail it to the City Manager’s
Office, P.O. Box 220, Decatur, GA 30031.
Downtown Development Update
The Trinity Triangle project is moving forward with some improvements to the site
plan. This project, located on the property
around the Dairy Queen, was caught up in
a change of ownership but is now moving
forward. The new scheme calls for renovating the Dairy Queen but leaving it in place.
This plan is good news because it means
the Dairy Queen will not have to close during construction. It also drops plans for the
drive-thru window that was a requirement
of corporate Dairy Queen if a new building
was constructed. The revised site plan more
closely matches recommendations from the
city’s Community Transportation Plan and
provides for a more efficient connection for
the PATH trail between Howard Avenue
and Trinity Place.
The plan also shows a much more efficient location for the parking deck that
is interior to the project. The project still
includes residential units with street-level
retail along Trinity Place. Residential units
on the Howard Avenue side will still include ground floor units that open directly
to the street. The developer anticipates a
nine-month design phase with construction
likely to begin late in 2009. The project
would be completed in 2010.
The proposed residential development at
315 W. Ponce de Leon Ave. is scheduled to
go before the Planning Commission in September. The developer proposes a residential
project on the surface parking lot located
behind the 10-story Decatur Court building. As proposed, the project includes a
three-story building fronting Montgomery
Street on the rear of the site that steps up to
a five-story building adjacent to the existing
office building.
The project includes a five-story building
fronting Ponce de Leon Avenue adjacent
to the seven-story 335 W. Ponce de Leon
condominium. The Ponce de Leon Avenue
building would include street level retail.
A parking deck is located on the interior
See Development, page 4
Information for the FOCUS should be submitted by mail to Editor, Decatur Focus, P.O. Box 220,
Decatur, GA 30031, by fax to 404-371-1593, or by email to [email protected].
The Decatur Focus is a joint publication of the City
of Decatur, the Decatur Downtown Development
Authority and the Decatur Business Association. It
is a newsletter intended to provide announcements
and information related to events, activities, and
businesses in the City of Decatur. The purpose of the
newsletter is to promote the city and encourage the
exchange of information among residents, business
owners and the school system. Letters to the editor,
editorials or other opinion pieces are not published.
All press releases, announcements and other information received for publication are subject to editing.
Information found in the Focus is also posted on
Decatur’s official website at www.decaturga.com. The
deadline for submitting articles, announcements or
advertising is the first day of the month preceding
publication. Contact: Editor, Decatur Focus, P.O.
Box 220, Decatur, GA 30031, 404-371-8386; fax
404-371-1593; email: [email protected].
DECATUR CITY COMMISSION
Bill Floyd ................................................. Mayor
Jim Baskett ............................. Mayor Pro Tem
Fred Boykin .............................. Commissioner
Kecia Cunningham .................. Commissioner
Mary Alice Kemp...................... Commissioner
DECATUR DOWNTOWN
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
Board
Sheila Hunt, Chair
Ed Bowen, Vice Chair
Fred Cavalli
John Drake
John Joyner
Chris Sciarrone
Betty Spiker
Decatur Business
Association
DECATUR BUSINESS ASSOCIATION
Neil Dobbs ....................................... President
Anne Berg................................ President-Elect
Laura Bevins .....................................Treasurer
Bernadette Wallace ......................... Secretary
Jason Conn...............................Past President
Design and layout: Lampe-Farley Communications
2 | Decatur Focus • September 2008
CITY NEWS
Calling All Decatur
Condo Residents
In October 2007, the Decatur Condo
Alliance (DCA) formed to offer board
members of Decatur condominiums
a vehicle to address their shared issues
and concerns. They meet monthly and
participate in an online Yahoo Group.
DCA is now opening membership
to all interested condo residents so that
everyone can benefit from this valuable
exchange. It is an effective way for condo residents to share information and
also address concerns and questions.
The alliance meets on the second
Thursday of each month. The next
meeting will be Thursday, Sept. 11, 7
p.m., at the Decatur Recreation Center, 231 Sycamore St. Make plans to
attend, learn what is happening in all
the condos and in the city, and help
shape the agenda for the coming year.
Join DCA online at www.decaturcondoalliance.org. If you have
questions or need more information
contact Aimee Wise, coordinator,
[email protected], or Carl
Black, online moderator, [email protected].
GR
EAT DEC
THE
UR
AT
r
e
e
B
TASTING FESTIVAL
1999-2008
Great Decatur Beer Tasting
Festival tickets are now for sale
online. Go to www.decaturbeerfestival.com
for information and a link to the ticket sales.
Tickets are $35 and may also be purchased at
Decatur CD, 356 W. Ponce de Leon Ave.
CodeRED Expands to Include Weather Warning
Decatur has expanded its CodeRED Emergency Notification System to include the option
of a CodeRED Weather Warning. The new option will deliver severe weather notifications
to residents’ telephones within seconds after being issued by the National Weather Service.
Weather notifications are issued for immediate threats of severe thunderstorms, flash floods
and tornadoes.
Subscribers receive warning messages any time severe weather threatens the Decatur/
DeKalb County area. The CodeRED Weather Warning will not call everyone on the list,
only the immediately affected areas. The information is based on instant satellite feeds and
latitude/longitude coordinates and uses new polygon warning methodologies, thus eliminating many false alarms associated with prior notification methods.
Decatur does not initiate the calls – they are done automatically via the proactive
Weather Warning system upon notification by the National Weather Service (NWS). Only
residents who sign up to receive the warnings will be contacted.
How is the CodeRED Weather Warning different from the CodeRED Emergency Notification System?
• Residents have to “opt-in” and register for the service. The enrollment link is available
on the city’s website.
• The calls are generated automatically when a National Weather Service bulletin has
been issued for the area – they are not initiated by the city.
For more information and to enroll in the program, go to www.decaturga.com/cgs_citysvcs_emergencymgmt_codered.aspx.
Old House Fair Coming in October
A day-long celebration featuring practical advice, materials, and services for the
old-house owner.
The City of Decatur, DeKalb History Center, and
Decatur Preservation Alliance announce their inaugural Old House Fair, to be held Saturday, October
25, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., at the Holiday Inn Decatur
Conference Plaza, 130 Clairemont Ave.
The event will feature a large exhibition space
with vendors of home improvement, historic
preservation, renovation, interior furnishing, and
construction products and services. A variety of
seminars will include hands-on demonstrations
on restoring historic windows, improving an old
house’s energy efficiency, developing an old-house
maintenance plan, researching old houses, and tax
incentives for certified rehabilitation.
Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the
door (cash or check only for tickets). They may
be purchased at Decatur City Hall, 509 N. McDonough St.; Smith Ace Hardware, 601 E. College
Ave.; Intown Hardware, 1404 Scott Blvd.; 17 Steps, 235-M Ponce de Leon Place; Kudzu,
2928 E. Ponce de Leon Ave.; Mission Motif, 1963 Hosea Williams Dr.; and Intown Ace
Hardware, 854 N .Highland Ave.
For more information visit www.decaturoldhousefair.com.
September 2008 • Decatur Focus | 3
CITY NEWS
Enjoy Movies on the
Quad at Agnes Scott
Agnes Scott College invites
Ag
the community to the Movie on the Woodruff Quad
series. The Sept. 19 feature
– “Kung FFu Panda” – will begin at
sunset (8:30
(8 p.m.). Bring your picnics
and enjoy aan evening under the stars
on the Agnes Scott College campus.
For information
informatio visit www.agnesscott.edu.
SkaterAid
Returns to East
Decatur Station
The fourth annual SkaterAid Skateboard, Music
and Art Festival is Sunday, Sept. 21, 3-8 p.m. at
East Decatur Station. All
proceeds go to the Brain
Tumor Foundation for
Children. Pictured are
examples from the art
deck auction where more
than 35 individuals transformed used skate board
decks into works of the imagination. The decks are on display
at the Brick Store Pub until the event.
SkaterAid 4 will take place rain or shine. Visit www.skateraid.net for more information about the event or to volunteer.
Development
continued from page 2
of the project and would serve both the
residential units and the existing office
building.
The developer requested a variance from
the parking requirements to implement
a shared parking plan and build a smaller
parking deck. Under this plan, rather than
build all of the parking spaces current zoning requires , a percentage of the spaces
would be shared between residents and
office employees, allowing the developer
to build a smaller, more efficient parking
deck.
4 | Decatur Focus • September 2008
Decatur Neighborhood Alliance
Meeting
The Decatur Neighborhood Alliance will meet on Wednesday,
Sept. 24, 6:30 p.m., at Wordsmith’s Books. The agenda will include
information about the new CodeRED Weather Warning service,
results from the recent Citizen’s Survey, a bond update, and other
items including those that neighborhoods would like to have on
the agenda.
Neighborhood associations are invited to send representatives
to the meeting and citizens interested in starting a neighborhood
group are also welcome.
The Decatur Neighborhood Alliance meets twice a year (in September and March). For more information contact Lee Ann Harvey, 678-553-6548, or [email protected].
Sorry, Wrong
Number!
Apologies to Eurasia Bistro for
listing their phone number incorrectly in the July/August Focus.
The correct number is 404-6878822.
Decatur diners – keep in
mind that Eurasia has added a
prix fixe menu for lunch and dinner that includes an appetizer,
entrée, dessert and free parking
(only with this menu).
Eurasia is at 129 E. Ponce de
Leon Ave. For more information
visit www.eurasiabistro.net.
The Board of Zoning Appeals tabled the
variance request at their August meeting
pending plan review by the Planning Commission.
Retail/Restaurant Update
Parker’s on Ponce reports that its opening
has been pushed to October. Owner J.T.
Scott reports some major plumbing issues that caused unexpected delays. Twist
‘n’ Scoot has now opened in downtown
Decatur, giving Decatur residents their
very own scooter store.
The Brickstore boys have started work
on Leon’s Full Service restaurant in the old
Eurasia Bistro owners Donald Mui and
Wendy Chang
gas station once occupied by Rue de Leon.
Several restaurant owners on the square
are working to bring valet service to the
square. We hope to have this service up
and running this fall. In the meantime,
check out www.decaturga.com for parking
locations.
The DeKalb County parking deck and
the Manuel Maloof building parking lot
both open up for free parking after 5 p.m.
and on the weekends. The Artisan parking
deck has plenty of public parking available
and accepts cash, credit or debit cards for
easy payment options.
CITY NEWS
Decatur to Participate
in Peak Democracy
Pilot Project
Online forums encourage community
participation on key issues.
The City of Decatur will participate in
a three-month Pilot Project with Peak
Democracy. The project involves online
forums designed to increase public participation on key issues facing the community.
Peak Democracy focuses on creating
and enhancing civic participation on local
issues with local government. The online
forums are designed to offer a way for the
community to give their opinions on issues
without having to attend a public meeting.
Decatur is one of 10 communities
throughout the nation invited to participate in this pilot project by the Alliance
for Innovation. The alliance is a nonprofit
membership-based partnership that includes professionals, local governments,
academics, and private sector partners. It
seeks to discover and apply the best ideas,
practices and solutions to the challenges
confronting local government communities.
Details about Peak Democracy including specifics about the questions and how
to participate will be posted at www.decaturga.com once they are finalized. For more
information email linda.harris@decaturga.
com or call 404-371-8386.
Agnes Scott Woodruff
Scholars Adopt a Mile
of E. College Avenue
Agnes Scott College Woodruff Scholars
Tammy Leverette and Lelania Ottoboni are
spearheading a community service project for
the nontraditional students they represent.
Beginning this fall, Woodruff Scholars will
gather on the first Saturday morning every
month to pick up litter along the one-mile
stretch of E. College Avenue from S. Candler
Street to the intersection with Adair Street
and Atlanta Avenue.
A street sign posted on E. College Avenue
just past the entrance to the college announces the Woodruff Scholars’ new affiliation with
the Adopt-A-Highway program managed by the Georgia Department of Transportation.
Leverette and Ottoboni plan to encourage the entire student body, staff and faculty to
join in the effort with the Woodruff Scholars.
The Woodruff Scholars program is named for Irene K. Woodruff, whose financial gift
to the college funds the program for nontraditional-age students. In addition to being
Woodruff Scholars, Leverette and Ottoboni both work for the Agnes Scott Department
of Public Safety.
Fall Plant Sale at Oakhurst Community Garden
Vegetable, flower, and herb transplants plus drought-hardy flowering perennials will be
available for sale at Oakhurst Community Garden Sept. 27, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sept. 28,
noon-5 p.m. during the Decatur Garden Tour.
Oakhurst Garden is at 435 Oakview Rd. For information call 678-642-4977.
WANT A SIMPLER LIFESTYLE
WITH LOWER TAXES, QUALITY CONSTRUCTION
AND CONVENIENCE??
Call: Emilie Markert ~ RE/MAX Executives, Inc.
Office 404-378-9300 ~ Cell. 404-915-8222
Two great Decatur condos for sale. Walk to shopping,
dining, groceries, video, and Marta connections.
September 2008 • Decatur Focus | 5
DBA NEWS
Get Healthy with Hoopla at
Back to School Event
Hoopla, an eclectic children’s store in
Decatur, is having a Get Healthy with
Hoopla event on Sunday, Sept. 14, 4-6
p.m. The afternoon will include a healthy
lunch cooking demonstration, organic
baby food samples, information on children’s and prenatal yoga, and special sales.
The event is free.
Cooking with Monkeys, an online retailer known for its convenient bento style
lunch box, will present cooking demonstrations; Decatur Hot Yoga instructors will
lead children in simple poses; Jacks Harvest
will offer samples of organic locally grown
baby food; and Lotus Chiropractic will talk
about alternative ways to keep kids physically healthy.
As an added bonus Hoopla will have a
15-percent-off sale on all fall apparel and
a special price of only $26.99 for monogrammed backpacks.
Hoopla is at 414 Church St. For more
information about the event call 404-3719485 or visit www.hooplakids.com.
Decatur Jewelry Artist
Offers Fall Classes
Artist and jewelry maker Judy
Parady is offering
a new series of
silver jewelrymaking classes
in her Decatur
studio, including
classes for beginners. Fall classes feature lessons on fabricating a round, hinged box, chain making,
and casting. Beginners complete a pierced
ring with a bezel set stone.
Judy’s well-equipped studio and the
small class size (maximum five) give students an optimum environment to quickly
learn the magic of silver jewelry making.
Day and evening classes begin Sept. 3. For
information visit www.judyparady.com/
classes.html or call 404-377-3695.
6 | Decatur Focus • September 2008
Regator.com Offers World’s Best Blog Posts
Decatur-based Regator.com scours the web to locate the world’s best blog posts and organizes them so that users can easily find, discuss, share and rate information. New users can
immediately start browsing high-quality blog posts about their favorite topics. Advanced
users can upload their existing blog subscriptions, create audio playlists and watch video,
comment on popular posts, or share links via Twitter, Facebook and email.
Regator.com’s three founders live in Decatur – Scott Lockhart, CEO, Chris Turner,
CTO, and Kimberly Turner, editorial director. For information call 404-693-5121 or email
[email protected].
Pregnancy, Mom & Baby Water Aerobics Offered
Water aerobics classes will be held at Agnes Scott College on Tuesdays and Saturdays in
September and will run through May, brought to you by Oh Baby! Fitness. Pregnancy
Yoga, Pregnancy Water Aerobics and Mom & Baby Pilates classes are also offered at DeKalb
Medical’s Wellness Center. Daytime, evening and weekend classes are available.
Cost is $80 for a six-week session, $15 per class drop-in. To register online and view
class schedules go to www.ohbabyfitness.com; or call 678-528-1390 for more information.
For a 10 percent discount, enter the code DECATURFOCUS when registering online.
Get More Fit with Pinnacle Fitness Bootcamp Exercise Program
Pinnacle Fitness Bootcamp offers a fun, affordable exercise program with certified health
and fitness professionals and a variety of techniques. The program is designed to help clients
build strong cardiovascular and musculoskeletal systems. It takes a holistic approach, teaching the benefits of good daily nutrition as well as exercise techniques.
Classes are available throughout the year and health and nutrition seminars are offered
to organizations. Classes are held at 185 Sams St. in the Leapin Lizards Family Fun Center.
For more information visit www.pinnaclefitnessbootcamp.com, email montrellwallace@
yahoo.com, or call 678-923-4794.
Learn Argentine Tango with Horacio Arcidiacono
In his Fundamentals class for beginners, Tango instructor Horacio Arcidiacono addresses
basic concepts such as connection, embrace, and posture. In his Advanced class, he explores
these concepts further to enable participants to dance smoothly on the social dance floor.
Classes are held on Tuesdays at Several Dancers Core Studio, 519 N. McDonough St. Fundamentals class is 7:30-8:30 p.m. and Advanced class is 8:30-9:30 p.m. The cost is $12 per
lesson ($5 for students) or $60 for six lessons. Visit www.buenosairestangoacademy.com,
email [email protected] or call 404-510-1032 for more information.
Twist ‘n’ Scoot Rolls into Decatur
Twist ‘n’ Scoot plans to open its second store in downtown Decatur
catur
at 431 W. Ponce de Leon Ave. Twist ‘n’ Scoot’s major brands include
nclude
Genuine Scooter Company (its retro-style “Buddy” model is picictured) and SYM. Twist ‘n’ Scoot offers a complete service departrtment, as well as helmets, clothing and accessories.
Modern scooters are fully automatic – just twist the handlebar
bar
throttle and go. The 49cc scooters do not require a motorcycle
license, registration, or license tag.
Twist ‘n’ Scoot was founded in 2003 by Bill Gornto. For
information call 404-817-8181 or visit www.twistnscoot.com.
DBA NEWS
From the DBA President: See You on the Square in September
S
ummer is coming to a close. That means the
fall concerts on the square are back – every
Wednesday and Saturday in September.
Don’t forget to drop by one of the restaurants
for your picnic needs or a takeout. Please make sure
to visit our sponsors who make these events possible.
These are Decatur businesses that give back to your
city. See you on the square!
– Neil Dobbs
Decatur Business
Association
Meeting Reminder
SEPTEMBER MEETING
When:
Where:
Tuesday, September 23
The Solarium
321 W. Hill St.
Networking reception begins at 5:15 p.m
Business meeting begins at 6 p.m.
PRESENTS
4043718386
EVENTS HOTLINE
4043718262
WWW.DECATURGA.COM
September 2008 • Decatur Focus | 7
CITY NEWS
Decatur Rotary Awards Grants
for At-Risk Youth and Literacy
Programs
The Decatur Rotary Club recently awarded its annual Community
Service Grants to seven local nonprofits with programs addressing
at-risk youth and literacy. Club member Rev. James Brewer-Calvert
of First Christian Church of Decatur presented grants ranging from
$1,000 to $2,500 to the following organizations: Boys and Girls
Club, Girl Scout Council, DeKalb Library Foundation, DeKalb Rape
Crisis Center, Our House, UMC Children’s Home, and Whiteford
Community Meridian Educational Resource.
Pictured are (front) Donna Brazzell, executive director, DeKalb
Library Foundation; Tyese Lawyer, executive director, Our House;
Deborah Rushdan, Learning Center director, Decatur Boys and
Girls Club; (back) First Christian Church’s Rev. James BrewerCalvert; Landers A. Thomas, development director, DeKalb Rape
Crisis Center; Richard Puckett, director, United Methodist Children’s Home; Bebe Joyner, Northwest Georgia Girl Scout Council;
Darro Willey, director, DeKalb County Public Library System; John
Leonard, Whiteford Community Meridian Education Resource.
ATLANTA'S QUALITY INDEPENDENT
LAND SURVEYOR
David R. May
Land Surveyor, LLC
PO Box 373
Decatur, GA 30031
404.964.6244
www.davidrmay.com
When Experience Counts
“28 Years of Putting Nice People in
Fine Homes”
Exceptional, Personalized Service
Experience, Insight, Integrity
Decatur Preservation Alliance, Chair
Georgia Tennis Foundation, SEC
PAM HUGHES
404.851.0732 / 404.250.9900
[email protected]
www.pamhughes.jennypruitt.com
8 | Decatur Focus • September 2008
Oakhurst Cooperative
Preschool Presents the
2008 Annual Beat the
Street for Little Feet!
Historic Oakhurst Village
Oakhurst Cooperative Preschool’s 2nd Annual
Beat the Street for Little Feet!
~~~
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Fast 5K with stroller division in Oakhurst, September 13, 2008, 9 a.m.
Pete the Cat race t-shirt designed by award-winning artist, James Dean!
Unique single & double jog stroller division, one mile race and fun run
On-line registration at oakhurstcoop.com and active.com
In-store registration at Big Peach Running Co.
www.oakhurstcoop.com
DBA NEWS
News from Decatur Shops, Restaurants & Services
Boogaloos’ 7th Anniversary Sale is
Friday, Oct. 3, 6-11 p.m., with 25 percent
off full-price merchandise, an additional
15 percent off sale items, and 30 percent
off a purchase of $200 or more. Congratulations on seven successful years!
Boogaloos is at 246 W. Ponce de Leon
Ave. Visit www.boogaloosboutique.com
or call 404-373-3237.
Taste now sells Tervis Tumblers with
the Oakhurst logo. For every tumbler
sold, Taste will donate $1 to the Oakhurst
Neighborhood Association. Taste also
carries Tervis Tumblers with the City of
Decatur logo, with proceeds from those
sales going to the Decatur Youth Fund.
Taste is at 416 Church St. Call 404-3701863 for information.
Whit’s End now carries Decatur
High School Spirit Wear and is working on carrying items from other lines of
Decatur High merchandise. Spirit Wear is
always available at games and other high
school events, but now you can purchase
it at Whit’s End at your convenience. The
store is at 431-2 W. Ponce de Leon Ave.
Visit www.whitsenddecatur.com or call
404-377-3310.
Congratulations to the community
and to Mingei World Arts for raising
more than $2,300 toward building a
library in La Union, Mexico. The funds
were raised through a benefit performance
featuring Carmen Deedy and John McCutcheon at the Decatur Library.
Mingei World Arts is at 427 Church
St. Visit www.mingeiworldarts.com or call
404-371-0101 for information.
Relax with a martini, celebrate with a
margarita at Palate. The café and wine
bar now offers boutique spirits like Hanger
One Organic Vodka, English Harbor Aged
Rum, and The Peat Monster Scotch. Wine
tastings are held every other Thursday, 7-9
p.m., for $10 with appetizers.
Palate also sponsors benefits for nonprofit organizations. The organization receives
15 percent of the gross sales on the benefit
evening.
Palate Café and Wine Bar is at 321 W.
Hill St., Suite 7B. Visit www.palatewinebar.
com or call 404-373-4702 for information.
Congratulations to Paris Decatur,
which celebrated its one-year anniversary
in August. Paris Decatur is at 308 H Ponce
de Leon Place. For information visit www.
parisdecatur.com or call 404-370-1207.
Feast will host its 7th Wine Dinner
on Sept. 23, 7 p.m., featuring wines of
Australia with a special menu pairing. The
restaurant will host a Banfi Wine Dinner
on Oct. 21, 7 p.m. Banfi is a family-owned
vineyard estate and winery in the Brunello
region of Tuscany dedicated to sparking a
renaissance in Italian winemaking. Seating
is limited so make your reservations now!
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w experience and insurance
with
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BILL
MARKERT
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404-239-0352
4
OPENING SOON IN DECATUR
O
Feast is at 314 E. Howard Ave. Visit www.
feastrestaurant.com or call 404-377-2000.
Tastings, A Wine Experience held its
official Grand Opening this summer. Proprietors Kelly Resignola and Deb Lickhalter invite the community to stop by and
visit. The unique wine bar also offers a
bistro menu, high-end spirits, bottled and
draught beers, champagne, and dessert
wines and ports.
Tastings hosts a themed wine tasting
every Wednesday, 6:30-8:30 p.m., for $15
per person. It is located at 335A W. Ponce
de Leon Ave. Parking is free in the garage.
Call 404-373-3244 or visit www.awineexperience.com for information.
Melanie Eberhardt’s A Spoonful of Sugar continues through Sept. 17 at The Seen
Gallery, 321 W. Hill St., Suite 7A. Parking
is available in the rear of the building if
there is no space on the street now that
construction has started on the new fire
station. Visit www.theseengallery.com or
call 404-377-0733 for information.
Congratulations to Ted’s Montana
Grill, whose burgers were voted “best burner” by CityGuide. The burgers were also
honored in the July issue of 5280, a Denver
magazine, which named them the “Top of
the Town.”
Ted’s is at 201 W. Ponce de Leon Ave.
under the Artisan.
Custom
Fitting
Personal
Service
Charles Cope
Proprietor
650-B East Lake Drive • Decatur, Georgia 30030
404-377-1030 • www.1stepatatime.net
September 2008 • Decatur Focus | 9
DBA NEWS
Experience Wellness under the Tuscan Sun
Tuscan Sun Wellness Center, 431 W. Ponce De Leon Ave., is holding
an open house for Decatur residents and friends on Saturday, Sept.
13, 1-5 p.m. The staff of wellness practitioners will offer a variety of
complimentary services including chair massage, chiropractic screening, sound therapy sessions and wellness gifts. Coffee and Chai from
Dancing Goats and healthy gourmet treats will be served.
For more information visit www.tuscansunwellness.com.
News from By Hand South
Brenda Leder, owner of Decatur favorite By Hand South invites lovers of fine American craft to come by to browse and see what’s new
in the gallery. Fans of jewelry artist Regina Imbsweiler will want to
see her beautiful new rings and necklaces on display. There is always
a nice selection of fine wood jewelry and desk boxes in all shapes and
sizes crafted by Mikutowski Woodworking. Also featured are select
pieces of Vineware Pottery to round out a collection or give as a gift.
By Hand South is at 112 E. Ponce de Leon Ave., just off the square
in the heart of downtown Decatur. Gallery hours are Monday-Friday,
10 am to 6 pm, Saturday 10 am to 5 pm, closed on Sunday. Visit
www.byhandsouth.com for more information.
AIA-Decatur Announces New Degree
Program in Game Art and Design
The Art Institute of Atlanta-Decatur continues to grow. Beginning
fall quarter, the college will add a bachelor of fine arts degree in
game art and design in response to the increasing demand for artists in the rapidly growing industry.
The degree program focuses on developing students as game
artists prepared to
enter either the
game or entertainment industries.
Students begin by developing their manual and computer-based artistic skills. They study fundamentals of painting and sculpture and
then move on to the structure and narrative potential of games, including design, scriptwriting, storyboarding, and character design.
Jobs in this field include game designer, digital artist, modeler,
storyboard artist, 3D illustrator, and FX artist.
For more information about the game art and design program,
call 404-942-1800 or 1-866-856-6203, or visit www.artinstitutes.
edu/decatur.
Decatur-DeKalb Retired Educators to Meet
The Decatur-DeKalb Retired Educators Association, an affiliate of
Georgia Retired Educators Association, will meet at the First Christian Church of Decatur on Sept. 18 at 2 p.m. Shirley Lee, president
of DDREA, invites all retired educators in the area to hear news
regarding issues of Georgia Retired Educators.
This local unit was named a GREA Unit of Excellence this past
year and features programs and speakers on issues that directly
relate to the concerns and interests of retired educators. This year’s
program will feature topics that include legislative concerns, conscious aging, environmental issues, and community service.
DDREA provides support for the Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl,
the Women’s Resource Center, the DeKalb International Community School, and the retired educators at Budd Terrace. For additional information call 404-634-7729.
10 | Decatur Focus • September 2008
EVENTS
Columbia Seminary Photo Exhibit Highlights
Lost Southern Churches
A new art exhibit at Columbia Theological Seminary’s Center for
Lifelong Learning features black-and-white silver photographs of
outdoor baptismal fonts, exteriors and interiors of lost southern
churches, by Dana Matthews. The exhibit will be at the Harrington
Center, 701 S. Columbia Dr., on the seminary campus until Sept.
30. Admission is free. Exhibit hours are Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.4:30 p.m. Other viewing times can be arranged by contacting Kim
Clayton, 404-687-4578.
Beacon Hill Artist Studios News
Open House
The third annual Artist Studio Tour to raise funds for the arts at
Decatur High School will be held at Beacon Hill Studios, 410 W.
Trinity Place., on Saturday, Oct. 4, 4-9 p.m. Nine Beacon Hill artists and a number of guest artists will show their works in ceramics,
clay sculpture, photography, jewelry design, video, mixed media,
painting, drawing and fabric arts.
For more information and directions, contact, Rodney Grainger,
404-210-9846, or visit www.decaturartsalliance.org.
Drawing Courses Offered
Fall drawing courses at Beacon Hill Artist Studios will begin the
third week in September. Beginning, intermediate, and advanced
instruction in drawing and composition, portrait and figure drawing will be offered.
For more information and to be added to the mailing list contact Rodney Grainger, 404-210-9846, or [email protected].
Jazz Nights at Scottish Rite Return
The Oakhurst Neighborhood Association and The Community
Center of South Decatur present “Jazz Nights at Historic Scottish
Rite” – a four-week candlelit concert series in Oakhurst Village.
Join us each Thursday night in September, 7-9 p.m., in the
Scottish Rite courtyard (321 W. Hill St.) for a taste of what makes
Oakhurst so special. Thanks to the generosity of our local sponsors,
the community jazz concerts will once again be free for all. This
season’s lineup features Marsha Dupree, One Leg Up, Kayla Taylor,
and Nicole Chillemi.
The concert series is rain-or-shine. In case of inclement weather,
the Solarium at Scottish Rite provides a wonderfully intimate alternative site.
Visit www.oakhurstjazznights.com for schedule updates, sponsorship opportunities, directions, and table reservations (a limited
number of tables for four are available). For more information,
email [email protected].
Sponsors include the Oakhurst Business Association, Pinnacle
Custom Builders, Bloom Floral Design, Oakhurst Cleaner, DoubleDome Web Technologies, Progressive Redevelopment Incorporated,
Eric Burns Insurance, Norma Palus/Coldwell Banker Residential,
Kavarna, Batdorf & Bronson Coffee Roasters, Decatur Downtown
Development Authority, and Wahoo! Grill.
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September 2008 • Decatur Focus | 11
EVENTS
Decatur Education Foundation Hosts Low Country Boil
The sixth annual Low Country Boil benefiting the Decatur Education Foundation (DEF) will take place Oct. 23, 6:30 p.m.,
at the Solarium in Oakhurst. For the first time, this event will
be open to the public. For the last five years, the event was held
at a private home in Decatur, but the crowd had grown so large
over the years, it was time to make a change.
The Decatur Education Foundation has worked hard to give
Decatur’s students and teachers added support they would not
have received from any other source. A few examples
mples of DEF
DEF’ss
impact in its first seven years:
• $150,000 in mini-grants to support innovative
ve teaching and
150 professional development scholarships for
or teachers.
• Nearly 19,000 new books purchased for
economically disadvantaged students in
pre-K through 5th grade.
• 600 scholarships for students attending
summer school, summer camps and afterschool academic support.
• $32,000 in annual college scholarships for
Decatur High graduates.
Tickets will go on sale in early
September for this year’s Low
Country Boil. Mark your calendar
now for an evening of great food,
live music, and festivities – all
for a great cause. Visit www.
decaturlowcountryboil.com for
full event details, sponsorship
information and ticket sales.
Open 7 AM-7 PM
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12 | Decatur Focus • September 2008
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2959. E. Ponce de Leon Ave | Decatur, GA 30030 | 404-378-1680
EVENTS
Decatur Garden Tour Celebrates 20 Years
The 2008 Decatur Garden Tour is Saturday and Sunday,
Sept. 27 and 28. It features the gardens of 12 private
homes as well as four public gardens. There will also be a
variety of gardening lectures and demonstrations, musi2008
cal performances and children’s activities. The Decatur
Preservation Alliance (DPA) and Oakhurst Community Garden Project (OCGP) will host
the tour, which this year celebrates its 20th anniversary.
Private gardens on the tour include those belonging to Cakes & Ale restaurant owners
Billy and Kristin Allin and AJC wine writer Gil Kulers and his wife Eleanore. New this year
are Saturday twilight tours with wine and entertainment in the gardens of designer and author Ryan Gainey and environmental activist and artist Pandra Williams.
Throughout the weekend special programs for adults and children include lectures, native plant walks, cooking demonstrations, storytelling and more.
Dates and hours: Saturday, Sept. 27, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and evening twilight tours 7- 9
p.m.; Sunday, Sept. 28, noon-5 p.m.
Tickets: $25 provides access to all gardens and educational programs for the entire weekend and includes the Saturday evening event featuring two gardens with wine. Tickets are
sold online at www.decaturgardentour.com and at retail locations in Decatur, also listed on
the website. The weekend of the event, tickets will be available for sale at Woodlands Garden and Oakhurst Community Garden.
Visit www.decaturgardentour.com often for program listings and garden descriptions.
Men Stopping Violence to Honor
Decatur Resident and Restaurateur
Decatur resident Natasha Trethewey is an artist, a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet and a professor of poetry at
Emory University. George McKerrow Jr. is an innovative restaurateur who has headed up successful ventures
McKerrow
Trethewey
including Ted’s Montana Grill.
Men Stopping Violence (MSV) will honor their efforts at One Vision, Many Voices, the
2008 Men Stopping Violence annual awards dinner on Oct. 11.
Trethewey will receive the Kathleen Carlin Justice Seekers award, named for the founding
executive director of Men Stopping Violence. McKerrow will receive the True Ally Award, which
recognizes a man who has shown himself willing to take a stand for women’s safety.
The awards dinner is the main fundraiser for Men Stopping Violence, a nonprofit organization in Decatur, founded in 1982 to educate and organize men to end violence against women.
The proceeds from this event go to maintain and expand Men Stopping Violence programs.
For information call 404-270-9894 or visit www.menstoppingviolence.org.
Laughing Stock Produced by Methodist Church
Decatur First United Methodist Church invites the community to its production of Laughing Stock, an affectionate and farcical look into the world of theatres written by Charles
Morey and directed by Sharon Brewer.
Performances will be Sept. 18 and 19, 7:30 p.m.; Sept. 20, 5:30 p.m.; and Sept. 21, 1:30
p.m. A nursery will be provided on Friday night and Sunday afternoon. Nursery reservations must be made in advance by calling Phyllis Conard at the church, 404-378-4541.
General admission tickets will be available at the door. Ticket prices are $10 for adults,
$8 for youth and seniors, and $5 for elementary children. For more information, please call
Melinda Mobley, 404-373-4139.
September 2008 • Decatur Focus | 13
EVENTS
Decatur Library Music
Series Continues
The musical programs, sponsored by
Friends of the Decatur Library, are held
in the Decatur Library Auditorium, 215
Sycamore St., at 7 p.m. Doors open at 6:30
p.m. The programs are free and open to the
community.
Veronika Jackson • Thursday, Sept. 11
An expressive acoustic guitar player whose
Piedmont style is rhythmic, clear and bluesy. She tells stories through her music and
makes audiences feel as if they are sitting in
her home listening.
Old Enough To Know Better
Thursday, Sept. 25
A Decatur group known for singing songs
in a wide variety of styles and tongues, all
with rich, close harmonies. Their repertoire
includes pop, folk, shape-note hymns,
bluegrass gospel, Beach Boys, a Sea Island
hymn and folk ballads.
14 | Decatur Focus • September 2008
NPR’s Steve Goss is Chef du Jour at Voilà
‘Morning Edition’ host cooks for Woodlands Garden benefit.
Steve Goss, host of NPR’s (WABE, 90.1 FM) “Morning Edition,” will be Chef du Jour
at the second annual benefit dinner for Woodlands Garden, Sept. 21, at Voilà, 410-B W.
Ponce de Leon Ave.
Woodlands Garden is a seven-acre greenspace given by the Morse family to the Decatur
community in 2002. Its mission is to preserve a woodland garden as an urban sanctuary for
educating and engaging the community in the natural world.
The Chefs du Jour program at Voilà features people who love to cook but are not professional chefs. They serve as chef for a day to benefit their favorite charity. Mr. Goss’s menu
will feature his favorite recipe, Shrimp and Scallops Scampi.
Dinner is at 7 p.m. Tickets are $50 and reservations are required. For more information
or for reservations, call 404-371-4444 or email [email protected].
Fall Fashion Festival in Oakhurst Village
The Oakhurst Village merchants have scheduled a Fall Fashion Festival with live music and
a hair/fashion show for Saturday, Sept. 20, 7-9 p.m., in front of Matador Mexican Restaurant, Fresche Salon and Calavino’s Bistro at the corner of Mead and Oakview roads.
Real clients of the merchants will serve as models, presenting classic, chic and funky
hairstyles and attire for the fall season. Other highlights include local jewelry artisans and
fun-filled gift bags distributed to the first 50 guests.
Guests may dine outside at the local restaurants while enjoying the event.
AROUND DECATUR
★ Decatur Business Association member Kathy Greider
invites the women of the
Decatur Business Association
and the city of Decatur to a
Joy of Connecting Network
Event at MochaMatch Coffee
Bar, 627 E. College Ave., in
East Decatur Station. The cost
is $25 and includes dinner.
The event offers a chance to
connect with women business owners, entrepreneurs,
and other professionals. Call
404-313-8208 or email [email protected] for information.
★ Decatur resident Julie
Vazquez is certified and
licensed as a Musikgarten
instructor for ages 0-5. She offers classes year round at Scott
Boulevard Baptist Church.
The fall session will start in
October. For information call
404-492-5193, email [email protected], or
visit www.musikalkids.com.
★ Joan Rau, LMT, lifetime
Decatur resident and business
owner, has been accepted as a
charter member into the Society for Oncology Massage.
Providing therapeutic massage to individuals living with
cancer or with cancer histories
expands the range of services
she has provided in her 12year practice. Cancer massage
has suggested benefits for
individuals who are recently
diagnosed, undergoing treatment, and in survivorship.
Massage services are available
to support caregivers as well.
For information contact Joan
at 404-784-2225 or email
[email protected].
‘Beat the Street for Little Feet’ Returns DHS Class of ’88
Feet of all sizes are welcome to join Oakhurst Cooperative
Celebrates 20-year
Preschool families for a Saturday morning of running and
fun on Sept. 13, 9 a.m., at Harmony Park.
Reunion
The race includes a 5K with special jog stroller division,
a one-mile race for younger participants and a “fun run” for
the youngest runners. The post-race festival features live music for the kids, art tables, food, and a raffle.
In keeping with the preschool’s commitment to the environment, both the race and the festival are being planned to
minimize our carbon footprint.
Award-winning local artist James Dean has created another one-of-a-kind “Pete the Cat” race T-shirt for the event.
To check out the new T-shirt design and to register for the
race, visit www.oakhurstcoop.com. You may also register at
www.active.com or at the Big Peach Running Company in
downtown Decatur.
Know someone who graduated in the
Decatur High School class of 1988? If so,
join them at the DHS home football game
on Sept. 26, followed by a mixer at Twains
Pub. Friends, family, faculty and teachers
who want to walk even further down memory
lane with the “Great 88” are also invited to
purchase a ticket to the Family and Friends
BBQ, Sept. 27 at McKoy Park. For more
information visit www.decatur1988.com or
contact Michelle Maddox, [email protected].
Helping build your nest egg.
Since 1999 Fairfield Mortgage, in partnership with Decatur First Bank, has been
serving thousands of people just like you in the Decatur area. Whether you are
starting to build or have been in your nest for years, we can assist.
If you are building, renovating or purchasing a home…
…we have a number of construction programs and first time homebuyer
programs available.
If you currently own a home and need additional cash flow…
…you can open a Home Equity Line of Credit, or if you are a senior over the age
of 62, check to see if you may be eligible for a Reverse Mortgage.
For more information about a loan for your nest, contact:
Jeff Hancock - Nesting in Decatur since 1999
Senior Loan Officer
Direct: 404-371-4500
Fax: 800-503-9829
www.JeffHancockLoans.com
All figures are estimates and are subject to change without notification. Information provided should not be considered as a commitment to lend. Offer subject to property and credit approval. Program and other restrictions may apply. Please contact your Loan Officer for further details. ©2008 Fairfield Mortgage
September 2008 • Decatur Focus | 15
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