Decatur Metro

Jeff at Whit’s End points out that the city now has posted the list of stores participating in the “Decatur Shops Green” program. (I first reported the program back in June) All you need to do is pick up a bag for $15 at any of the participating locations and then automatically save 10% all future purchases when you use the bag. (Question: How long does this promotion last? Indefinitely?)

Beyond not using disposable bags, this really is a deal! Whole Foods gives you only 10 cents off a purchase when you use a reusable bag. For a mere $15, you can save a bundle if you frequent any of these Decatur shops!

• Boogaloos - 246 W. Ponce de Leon Ave., 404-474-3237

• Dresscodes - 201 W. Ponce de Leon Ave., Unit 117, 404-343-2894

• Eviva - 335-C W. Ponce de Leon Ave., 404-370-7606

• Heliotrope - 248 W. Ponce de Leon Ave., 404-371-0100

• Kaleidoscope - 252 W. Ponce de Leon Ave., 404-378-1214

• Mingei - 427 Church St., 404-371-0101

• Peggy’s Boutique - 308 W. Ponce de Leon Ave., 404-370-9888

• Rockit - 145-B Sycamore St., 404-373-5099

• Sawicki’s - 250 W. Ponce de Leon Ave., 404-377-0992

• Squash Blossom - 113 E. Court Sq., 404-373-1864

• Taste - 416 Church St., 404-370-1863

• Whit’s End - 431 W. Ponce de Leon Ave. #2, 404-377-3310

• Wiggle - 305 E. College Ave., 404-373-2522

Get ready everyone…cause it sounds like the 315 W. Ponce developers are going to the planning commission for approval in August. This date is based on rumblings that I’ve personally heard and from a recent note by Wardell on the Oakhurst Message Board.

That same note also asks (with a few too many CAPS in my opinion) residents to sign a petition that opposes the current development plan for the site. 34 people have signed the online version thus far.

Here it is in full…

We the undersigned hereby petition the Decatur City Commission, the Decatur Planning Commission, and the Decatur Zoning Board of Appeals as follows:

1) That the current proposed development of dwelling units abutting and adjacent to this R-60 neighborhood not be permitted on this C-2 Site.

2) That any other residential development on this site be approved only if it will not have adverse effects on the density, traffic, public services, or schools of the existing R-60 site.

3) That any development be required to meet all current zoning requirements as to parking for this site.

So I guess this means the neighborhood isn’t really working on a compromise, huh?

And I have just one question at the moment about this petition…how does one measure and/or determine any potential “adverse effects”? I think there are lots of assumptions being made here that have yet to be proven.

For those new to this issue, I highly recommend this post to get up to speed on the arguments of both sides.

JD Issacs recently wrote in to let me (and other Decatur bloggers) know that his new frame shop has opened right behind the Masonic Lodge on Clairemont.  Issacs moved out of Rue de Leon after it closed last month.

Next Stop…Decatur has some great shots of both the interior and exterior.  Personally, I think the new awning looks great!

Got your attention?

From Russ Abbott, owner of Ink & Dagger Tattoo (a couple doors down from Wahoo! on College)

Decatur - Come show your true colors this Friday, the Fourth of July, by getting a tattoo and helping to raise money for the families of overseas-troops. Ink & Dagger Tattoo Parlour will host Tribute to Tradition - a charity drive with all proceeds going to Operation Home Front - an organization which works to help the families of the National Guard and Reservists.

The shop will open its doors at 11 AM Friday and hopes to complete more than 30 tattoos by day’s end. To help achieve this monumental task, Russ Abbott - owner and resident artist - has enlisted the help of Christian Ratchford, a regular guest-artist here at Ink & Dagger Tattoo Parlour, who will work alongside Abbott, Jason Kelly, and Michael “Shack” Shackelford. “We thought: what better way to celebrate our Nation’s independence than to honor and support those who help to preserve it!?” - says Abbott. The shop, which specializes in Americana-style tattoos, hopes people will embrace this opportunity to help raise money for the families of soldiers and go home with a piece of American history and tradition.

Attendees will be able to choose from a variety of preselected iconic images and designs, including but not limited to anchors, skulls, flags, and tall-ships. Abbott adds: “Since the Civil War, soldiers have used tattoos as a way to celebrate heroic feats in battle or to commemorate their fallen brothers. Now it’s our turn to pay tribute to the legends of yesterday and heroes of today by carrying on this timeless tradition and indelible part of American History.”

More information and artist portfolios can be seen on the shop’s website: www.inkanddaggertattoo.com.

[photo ripped from Ink and Dagger's blog]

In the June issue of the Focus, Lyn lets the community know that there is “interest from a scooter store and locally owned outdoor outfitter” about opening shops in Decatur.

We’ve known about the city’s interest in bringing in a scooter store since they announced their interest in the city mag last year, but this is the first we’ve heard about an outdoor outfitter.  Not sure if Lyn is yet in a position to give any more details about these new shops yet, but we certainly welcome anything else she can pass along (store names, potential locations).  If it’s too early in the process, we understand.

Also, I finally got an answer about that “Coming Soon” sign in front of the old Federal building.  According to the same Focus article, the building will indeed be a “candy store and gift shop”.

So are we talking penny candy or really high-end chocolate here?

Seems like all of our leads and details were right on the money. Nice job Carl and everyone else that contributed pieces to this story.

Here’s the full story from the AJC…

The rash of “blue jean bandit” thefts in Atlanta has apparently spread to Decatur, where a clothing store was struck by thieves within an hour of a similar robbery in Buckhead.

Kaleidoscope, a clothing store on West Ponce de Leon in downtown Decatur, was robbed Wednesday afternoon, Decatur police Capt. David Hipple said. A group of young males pepper-sprayed employees before fleeing with high-end blue jeans and other apparel.

The same thing happened about an hour earlier, shortly before 4 p.m., at Brazil Fine Italian Menswear on Peachtree Road near Piedmont Hospital, Atlanta police spokesman Eric Schwartz said.

Two men came into the store and stayed about 10 minutes before leaving, only to return with about five or six other men. A female employee was pepper-sprayed and punched in the face by the suspects.

Police suspect the incidents are related. The suspects in the Decatur robbery fled the scene in a stolen gold minivan police say they think was used in the earlier Atlanta theft.

Atlanta and Decatur police plan to hold a joint news conference later this afternoon in Atlanta to discuss the incidents, Hipple said.

Police for months have been looking for a band of thieves who have been preying on high-end boutiques. Until now, the blue jean bandits have struck late at night, breaking glass windows and doors to gain entry.

Hipple said video footage taken from surveillance cameras at the Decatur boutique shows the suspects’ faces. Decatur police chased the minivan after the incident but lost the vehicle in Atlanta, he said.  [A comment in the previous post said the chase took place on DeKalb Ave and was halted after the van hit three cars]

The daylight robberies are brazen, Hipple said.

“It happens quick, and I guess that’s their advantage,” he said.

So no one has EVER been arrested in connection with these “blue jean” robberies? It seems like a crime ring.

Also, if these are the “blue jean bandits” known for their quick in-and-out, its pretty impressive that the Decatur PD was able to catch up with them. I’ve yet to hear about another jean robbery where police pursued suspects. I would like to know more detail about how they were alerted.

h/t: InDecatur

Both the AJC and Creative Loafing have new and glowing pieces on one of Decatur’s newest, independent restaurants, the Sir Toby Belch inspired “Cakes and Ale“.

The AJC article highlights Cakes and Ale’s beer list and pairing possibilities, while Creative Loafing’s Besha Rodell sounds like she’s become kind of addicted to the place.  She notes the subtle changes to the menu over the past months and praises the “simple” mantra of the establishment.

So, whether you want to drink upscale, enjoy an excellent meal, or just sip a cup of coffee and nibble something sweet, it sounds like the AJC and Creative Loafing agree (extraordinary isn’t it?!) that Cakes and Ale should be a top consideration.

Hey, that rhymes in both English and German!

Posting will be light (to non-existent) over the next week, as I head overseas to perform with the Berlin Philharmonie in the bustling capital city of Germany.

The AJC’s Pierre Ruhe wrote about the trip recently on ATLarts in you are interested in reading about one of the many great opportunities offered to the ASO Chorus.

The hotel promises wi-fi, so I may check in occasionally, but as I said, posting will be very light as we rehearse and explore Berlin.

Cheers to all! And don’t tear down any priceless landmarks while I’m gone!

In my ongoing pursuit to bring you all needless city rankers regarding things you already know, here’s a new one out by Forbes.com, which rates Atlanta, GA as the city with the worst commute in the whole darn country.

OK, so we’ve achieved our goal of #1 status. Unless we’re looking to compete with Shanghai to be “Worst in the World”, let’s quickly get through the awards ceremony (and the after-parties) so we can implement some solutions to the traffic problem. No? You need more time to create additional committees and action plans? OK…just as long as you’re not stalling.

You’re not stalling GA legislature, right?

[picture courtesy of Forbes.com]

The condo development along Hillyer that prompted the creation of the Old Decatur Historic District a couple years back seems to have been scrapped by its current owner.

After months of back and forth with the neighborhood and HPC, this project was all but ready to begin last fall. Now, the softening of the real estate market seems to have scared the developer off completely.