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LABOR DAY WEEKEND - DECATUR BOOK FESTIVAL
Calling all budding artists! How do YOU draw Bookzilla? Kids 12 and under are asked to submit their own rendition of Decatur's favorite monster with a chance to win some really awesome prizes:
http://www.decaturbookfestival.com/2011/news/art-contest.php
www.decaturbookfestival.com
This Labor Day Weekend, mingle with 300 of your favorite authors, attend a reading or
book signing, listen to live music and poetry, enjoy cooking demonstrations and fine wine, and participate in fun activities for the entire family during the sixth annual AJC Decatur Book Festival
The world’s greatest beer will be available at the 8th Annual GERMAN BIERFEST!
The Reinheitsgebot (purity order), are the rules that oversee the process of making German beer. They are also the rules that have made brewing German beer an artform and the outcome, arguably the best beer in the world.
This summer in Atlanta, the 8th Annual German Bierfest will celebrate the greatness of German beer in a family-friendly environment. Complete with authentic German food, activities for the kids, music and fun, the German Bierfest is not only the only authentic German Bierfest in Atlanta, but the only family-friendly beer festival as well.
The festival takes place on Saturday, August 27th, 2011, rain or shine, in Woodruff Park in downtown Atlanta.
For the price of admittance ($35 at the door, $30 pre-sold online), attendees can drink all the beer they can safely consume. Designated drivers are encouraged and can attend for free. No one under the age of 21 will be permitted to consume alcohol. A designated driver service will also be on site for those who find themselves in an unsafe condition to drive home.
Pictures from last year’s event can be found here.
And while you are counting down the days to the German Bierfest, don’t forget to come to ATLANTA’S FIRST SCHLAGERPARTY! A night full of German pop and party music where you can also enjoy the ‘Beer of the Day’, Weihenstephaner – $5 for 1/2 liter, $9 for 1 liter! Saturday, August 13th, from 7:00pm to 12:00am at Der Biergarten.
The 11th annual Decatur BBQ, Blues & Bluegrass festival returns again to Harmony Park on August 20, and comes for the first time with a title sponsor — DeKalb Medical. The stage goes live at 4 p.m. with Spanky and the Love Handles and continues until 10 p.m. with other artists taking the stage every hour. The BBQ side of the festival will be covered by Black Tie Barbecue, Community Q, and the Fox Brothers, with vegetarian fare provided
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Event Dates:
6/17/2011
Location: Decatur - DeKalb CVB
Dekalb Convention & Visitors Bureau
Decatur, GA 30030
Location Phone: 800.999.6055
Ticket Prices:
Child:free
 Location Website
Event Website
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Beach Party Friday, June 17 • 5 p.m. to midnight Decatur brings in 60 tons of sand and turns the square into a beach for this annual event. Dance in the streets to the beach music from the live band. Activities include children's boardwalk games, face painting, wading pools in the sand and more. Adults $7.00 in advance, available for online purchase a few weeks before the event, or $10 at the gate; children 12 and under, free (limit two children per paying adult). No coolers, glass or pets allowed. Sponsored by Decatur Business Association. Proceeds from this annual fundraiser benefit downtown improvement projects. |
6/1/2011-
This week’s deals:
1. YOUTH YARD SALE, First Baptist Church of Decatur, 308 Clairemont Rd., Decatur.
Deal: Household items, gardening equipment, furniture, books, gadget, everything you can imagine and more.
Good through: Sale is Thursday, June 9 to Saturday, June 11.
Hint: Most items half-off on Saturday.
2. CHEAP GAS DEAL: Low gas price finder in Decatur and Avondale
Good Through: Ongoing
Helpful hint: Also check out Bill Shrinks Alerts on gas, credit cards, and wireless https://www.billshrink.com/
3. MEDITERRANEAN GRILL, 2126 N Decatur Rd., Decatur
Deal: Try the Business Lunch Combo, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mon-Fri $6.90. Shish Kabob, Gyro slices, Rice Pilaf, Salad, Pita Bread, fountain drink.
Good Through: Ongoing
4. BOUTIQUE KARMA, 340 Church Street, Decatur (404) 373-7533
Deal: Up to 20 percent off on tops. Summer Sale!
Good through: Ongoing. Check the chalkboard for other sales.
5. FLEET FEET, 431 W Ponce de Leon Ave, Decatur, 404-371-0208
Deal: Free walking program, WalkFit! Register at Fleet Feet Decatur to join. Track your steps and post your progress, attend monthly group walks and events, receive motivational emails, and get fit.
Good Through: Ongoing
Helpful Hint! If you need a pedometer to count your steps, purchase one at Fleet Feet for $20. If you buy shoes with your pedometer, they'll give you a $20 store credit!
5/24/2011
Former Holiday Inn Atlanta Decatur Hotel and Conference Center184-room hotel to undergo a comprehensive redevelopment and be rebranded as a Courtyard by Marriott
Privately held Noble Investment Group ("Noble"), today announced the acquisition of the former Holiday Inn Decatur Hotel and Conference Center in the heart of downtown historic Decatur, Georgia. Located within close proximity to the 631-acre Emory University campus, Emory HealthCare, and the Center for Disease Control, the hotel boasts 184 rooms and suites as well as 15,000 square feet of meeting and event space in the adjoining Decatur Conference Center. Noble will immediately begin a comprehensive redevelopment plan and upon completion, will convert the property to the Courtyard by Marriott brand.
"We are excited to source this off-market opportunity in a high barrier to entry market with strong and diverse demand generators," said Rodney Williams, Noble's chief investment officer and a managing principal. "Noble's ability to physically enhance, reposition, and rebrand the asset, will enable us to maximize operating performance and add substantial value to this investment."
"Decatur is an ideal example of a progressive live-work-play community with more than 200 distinct restaurants, boutique retail destinations and headquarter companies within walking distance of the new Courtyard by Marriott and Decatur Conference Center," said Decatur Mayor Bill Floyd. "Being able to work with Noble to provide first class lodging and meeting space is an important part of the City's long-term economic development strategy."
Located in a vibrant, village-like square comprised of offices, restaurants, bars, and retail boutiques within historic downtown Decatur, one of Atlanta's earliest settlements dating back to 1822, the expansive repositioning of the hotel to a Courtyard by Marriott will feature new guest rooms and suites complete with high-tech amenities as well as inviting spaces throughout the hotel to work, relax and recharge. In addition, physical and technological enhancements will be made to the Decatur Conference Center which provides more than 15,000 square feet of meeting and event space for corporate meetings as well as social occasions.
About Noble Investment Group | Founded in 1993, the Noble organization specializes in the lodging and hospitality real estate sector. Through its private equity real estate funds, Noble has invested more than $1.7 billion in hotels and resorts throughout the United States and the organization's current discretionary private equity fund represents $310 million of equity commitments. An award winning operator, Noble currently manages more than 10,000 hotel and resort guest rooms throughout the United States, most of which are affiliated with Marriott, Hyatt, Hilton, and Starwood. In addition, Noble operates convention and conference centers with more than one million square feet of meeting space, day and resort spas, upscale restaurants, and is a franchisee of Starbucks Coffee retail stores. For more information, please visit www.nobleinvestment.com.
emory university campus, chief investment officer, economic development strategy, marriott brand, retail boutiques, courtyard by marriott, emory healthcare, technological enhancements, retail destinations, rodney williams, class lodging, decatur hotel, center for dis
Tex Sells New Decatur Restaurant
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A Texas-y New Spot to Hang Your Hat |
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VITALS |
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Big Tex Cantina
308 W Ponce De Leon Ave
Decatur, GA 30030
404-377-3939
official website
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Next week, you’ll leave it all on the field. The mergers will be merging. The yes-men will be yessing. You’ll even spend a little time in the office. But then, it’ll be time to pump the brakes a bit. You know, pat a puppy on the head. Eat a Zagnut. Just... relax. Preferably, with a bunch of beer. To facilitate: the Big Tex Cantina, your new HQ for heated pool table battles and Frito-crusted tacos from the guys behind Fox Brothers BBQ, soft-opening next Friday in Decatur. This is where you’ll go when your agenda consists of... well, nothing. And that’s the beauty of it, really. There’s the ragtag bounty of Texas-y paraphernalia dotting the walls (the bull’s-horns-to-human ratio is absurd). The saloon-style stained glass lights. The 60 beers and Watermelon Margaritas. If you’re on a solo mission, grab something cold and domestic to go with your Texas-Style Poutine and let the Brothers Fox weave a tale or two for you at the bar. But if you brought a few buddies along, you’ll want to hit the main dining room or those church pews behind the bar to commune over Frito-Crusted Catfish Tacos and enchiladas smothered in chili gravy and fried eggs. Or you could just do all of the above while you shoot some stick back in the semi-hidden game room. Which, surprisingly, is not Frito-crusted. |
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Join us for the largest art event in Decatur, Georgia! The Artists Market is Memorial Day weekend, May 28-29, and other events run throughout the month of May. This month-long celebration of the arts kicks off with the Poster Unveiling on Thursday, May 5, and culminates with the closing of the Fine Arts Exhibition Sunday, June 5. Every event is free and open to the public
Springtime in Decatur
This year the Decatur Garden Tour returns to the spring and adds a new dimension for participants with the theme “Outdoor Spaces. Entertaining Places.” Some of the gardeners will open part of their homes to demonstrate the flow between indoor living areas and patios, decks, and the garden for relaxation and entertaining.
Find inspiration in:
• Great patios, gazebos and spaces for entertaining
• Native plants and rare specimens
• Serene waterfalls, fountains and ponds
• Art and sculpture installations
Your ticket purchase benefits the Oakhurst Community Garden Project and the Decatur Preservation Alliance to support their operations and programs.
 Oakhurst Community Garden Project
Mission: to cultivate vibrant green space and inspire a community of environmental stewards.
Vision: The Oakhurst Community Garden Project (OCGP) – incorporated in 1997 – actively engages youth, families, and individuals in their environment, health and community through organized programs, classes and events that develop creative skills in sustainable urban living, organic gardening, health and nutrition.
The OCGP serves as community garden, nature center, neighborhood meeting space and wildlife habitat and is open for all to experience the potential of urban green space. The Garden provides resources for people to take home and apply in other areas of their lives. In 2010, the OCGP expanded by one acre with the addition of Sugar Creek Garden and also adopted the Decatur Farm to School initiative into the organization.
 Decatur Preservation Alliance
The Decatur Preservation Alliance (DPA) celebrated 10 years of preserving Decatur’s historic structures and green spaces in 2010. The first DPA projects were saving Decatur’s historic Train Depot and rescuing the Fraser building (circa 1870), currently located at the Church Street entrance to Decatur Cemetery.
Our vision has grown to include service to the community through Decatur’s Martin Luther King Jr. Service Project, held annually in January. Friends of Decatur Cemetery is an active part of the DPA family, protecting the historical aspects of the cemetery. Our office is in Woodlands Garden, the seven-acre green space gift from the Morse family to Decatur through DPA, located at 920 Scott Blvd. Along with the Oakhurst Community Garden, we host Decatur’s annual Garden Tour.
Decatur article
Updating “Mayberry Meets Berkeley” For the 21st CenturyMay 9, 2011 | 11:35 am
 
While never the official tagline of Decatur, “Where Mayberry Meets Berkeley” seems to continually insert itself into most articles about our city that introduce it to a new audience.
Whether the persistent presence of this rogue tagline in countless Decatur-centric articles says more about the PR limitations of the city’s official tagline of “City of Homes, Schools and Places of Worship” is a whole different conversation. For now, I’m hoping we might be able to suggest an update for the more popular, yet unofficial tagline.
If you were plugged into 1960s television culture, you’ll know that “Mayberry” was the fictional town where the Andy Griffith Show took place. And if you plugged into 1960s political culture, you’ll know that Berkeley was once a liberal hotbed of riots and protests.
But it’s now 2011. The 1960s are slowly passing across the 50 year mark.
So, I think it might be a good idea if we at least try and update this unofficial tagline to appeal to the large majority of the earth’s population not around 50 years ago. And who better suited to do that than the most unofficial of city blogs?
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First from the