inDECATUR

Skateboarders should definitely wear helmets

On Mar. 27, 2008 Josh Waggoner, a 17 year old rollerblader from Decatur, Georgia, died from a severe head injury he suffered while attempting to grind a handrail on his skates.

Here's a YouTube clip of him skateboarding earlier without a helmet. [He was good, while he lasted.]

Josh Wagonner is the second stunt rollerblader to die from a head injury in the last decade. The other rollerblader, Richard Taylor, died several years ago when he tried to swerve away from a moving car while speed skating down a steep and curvy hill. Neither Taylor nor Wagonner were wearing helmets.

The Guilfordian

This article just happened to pop up as I searched for Decatur news this AM, but it's very timely.

If you're very lucky, when not wearing a helmet boarding or biking, you'll just get a nasty flesh wound, like this, when you land on your head.

Otis Sisk, 26, wins tree-climbing contest at UMC Home

Otis Sisk, 26, won the 11th Annual Georgia Arborist Association's Tree Climbing Championship.

In the exclusive fraternity of tree jockeys, Sisk outshone a field of 20 who spent Saturday clambering around a community of mature oaks at the United Methodist Children's Home in Decatur.

Part tree service industry seminar, part training refresher course and part macho branch-swinging, the state master championship is Sisk's third straight, despite a scoring gaffe for leaving a piece of equipment in the tree (major no-no with a 20-point demerit).

TS|AJC|2008Mar01Sat

The GAA would not approve of the tree climbing we did as kids, with NO safety equipment. And I mean serious climbing -- going way up in big old trees long since cut down for development.

We also had a tree house about 30-40 feet up in the back yard in Decatur Heights, which served as a neighborhood lookout. It had state-of-the-art communications down to the clubhouse: two cans and a string. Apparently it didn't hurt the tree too much, as it's still there a half century later.

Gay dance moved from the Abbey to Paris in Decatur

After drifting throughout Midtown since 1999, the congregation of St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church purchased the former Abbey restaurant in April 2006. A gothic structure situated on the southern edge of Midtown on Ponce De Leon Avenue, the Abbey was a longtime popular nightlife venue for gay and straight promoters, but had fallen into disrepair during its last years operating as a restaurant.

A pair of gay events that were scheduled to take place at The Abbey in February and March were canceled when St. Paul’s leadership discovered the parties might include gay couples dancing.

The organizers of Club M.A.R.K. — a church-wide dance sponsored by the gay-welcoming St. Mark United Methodist Church — entered a rental agreement with St. Paul’s in October, but didn’t learn until days before their Feb. 9 dance that St. Paul’s was canceling the event.

The Club M.A.R.K. dance was rescheduled for March 1 at Paris on Ponce in Decatur, while Southern Voice organizers continue to look for a replacement venue for the anniversary event.

Ryan Lee|Southern Voice|2008Feb22Fri

Trackside chicken grilling & NASCAR viewing, Sunday, 2/17

Beer can chickens with front row seats for the NASCAR race

The Trackside Tavern [in the little strip mall at the SE corner of E.College and Chandler, across from the DePeaux -- map]  will be grilling beer can chicken beginning 3PM Sunday.

If you bring an uncooked chicken [this blogger dares you to bring a live one] or a dish, you can eat for free. Otherwise, it's only $5. (An uncooked chicken costs about $5 at Kroger, so it's a financial tradeoff. Call and ask what they need most: chickens, dishes, or cash?

You'll get more than you can eat for a low price, and have a good time!

The occasion: The running of the NASCAR 500 at Daytona and the start [at 3:30PM] of the Sprint Cup [new sponsor] season, of course.

If you think there are no old-fashioned Southerners left in Decatur, think again. But, you'll also find other types who can get along with people who are different than them. The clientele can be very diverse, but everyone is considerate of others (at least during the earlier hours when this blogger is there - can't speak for after 11PM).

If you want to understand the sociology of Trackside better, read the review and comments at Weathered Living.  It's one of the oldest pubs in town.

 

25th Anniversary [2007] tee by John Cox

Oakhurst Wine Crawl next Saturday

The neighbors and local businesses of Oakhurst present the 6th Annual Wine Crawl on Saturday, February 23rd from 4pm - 7pm in the Oakhurst Village.

The event is a celebration of the Oakhurst community and will feature wines from around the world as selected by two local Oakhurst residents. Attendees will visit all participating local Oakhurst businesses each featuring a different wine selection to taste.

Tickets on-sale NOW at local Oakhurst businesses for a cost of $20 per ticket in advance, $25 cash on the day of the event.

GoDeKalb|2008Feb15Fri

Best buy your ticket (which was a commemorative sampling glass in past years) early, as there will be a line at 4PM, and in the past the glasses were limited to 500.

A clip of the writeup in the Oakhurst Leaflet is in the continuation.

Sunday shift of MLK Service Project canceled

From: "Decatur e-News Alerts" <e-newsalerts@decaturga.com>

Due to inclement weather, the Sunday shift of the MLK Service Project has been canceled.

 

All Sunday volunteers are invited to participate in one of the Monday shifts.

 

Come to the Solarium at 8:30 a.m. for the 9 a.m.-1 p.m. shift and 12:30 p.m. for the 1-5 p.m. shift.

Happenings in and around Decatur Sunday 12/23/2007

Holiday Studio Show 2007
MudFire Pottery Center, 175 Laredo Drive (just west of Avondale)
Each year the artists, potters and sculptors of MudFire come together for a huge group exhibit and sale, with over 100 artists participating. Gift certificates for studio membership and pottery lessons are also available. The artists will have been working for months to create unique, handmade gift items at a variety of price points. The range of work will be unbelievable.
11/23/2007 to 12/23/2007
Thursday through Sunday
from 12 to 8 p.m. - FREE

Jennifer Daniels with Drew Holcomb.
Eddie's Attic
Jennifer Daniels is a uniquely gifted and naturally talented performing songwriter, as well as an excellent guitarist with magnetic stage presence. Paste Magazine calls her "an amazing musical talent." Her music has celtic influences fused with Southern inflections.
12/23/2007
Doors open at 6 p.m.
Show starts at 7 p.m.

For more events in metro Atlanta, visit Plan-It.

Happenings in and around Decatur this weekend 12/21-22/2007

First Annual Hall of Trees

Theatre Decatur’s Festival of Trees is sure to become a cherished holiday tradition for family and friends for years to come. The volunteers, sponsors and other generous business owners who have brought in their trees, tree designers and decorations to provide holiday spirit to Theatre Decatur have made this festival of trees possible.This will be a City of Decatur premier holiday event. Visitors can stroll through the Theatre to see decorated trees and wreaths created by the city's top artists and designers.

Theatre Decatur
11/29/2007 to 12/22/2007
Thursday through Saturday at 7 p.m.
Sunday at 2 p.m. ($7 adults, $5 kids)

David Ryan Harris
Eddie's Attic

David Ryan Harris is a very fine soul-rocker and songwriter in his own right, and you won't want to miss this opportunity to hear him play his own material - songs with beautiful, haunting melodies, sharp storytelling and bluesy guitar. *Early Show all ages, Late Show 21 and over.
12/22/2007
Early Show starts at 7 p.m.
Late Show starts at 9:30 p.m.

For more events in metro Atlanta, visit Plan-It.

Last Terrific Thursday features bonfire & marshmallow roast

Thursday, Dec. 20 • 7-8 p.m.
On the square
We end our Terrific Thursdays with the annual Bonfire/Marshmallow Roast. Gather around the giant bonfire and roast marshmallows. Free. Sponsored by Decatur Business Association. 

You can still ride the bus, meet Santa, and shop until 10PM, which many merchants providing food and drink and specials. See details at this City of Decatur page.

Unfortunately for the bonfire, roast, and shopping; but good for the drought; the weather man is calling for steady rain starting Thursday evening. Wear your rain gear and ride the bus and you can still shop.

Happenings in and around Decatur on Sunday 12/9/07

Stone Mountain Christmas activities (mentioned in previous post)

59th Annual Christmas Concert by Decatur Civic Chorus at Decatur First Baptist, 3P.

Father Christmas' Favorite Music
Michael C. Carlos Museum, 4P, only $4
Enjoy an evening of music that is sure to get you in the holiday spirit! Santa Claus makes a personal appearance to hand out holiday treats and hear some of his favorite chamber music played by the Vega Quartet.

Independent Artists, Innovative Art: Showcase
Emory's Performing Arts Studio, 5P
This Fieldwork Showcase is a performance of works-in-progress created during the CORE's Fieldwork workshops. Patrons are invited to experience the newly developed talent firsthand, in association with Arts at Emory. [$7]  

CONTINUING EVENTS

“Holiday Lights, Southern Nights,” is sponsored by Atlanta.net, the visitor website of the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau, and by Brand Atlanta. The contest offers a $2,500 cash grand prize plus other valuable prizes. To enter, contestants can upload original photos they’ve taken to Atlanta.net. The photos that generate the highest tally of votes from their fellow Metro Atlanta residents will win. It’s up to the community to select the photos that best represent our local holiday decorating traditions.

What: Holiday Lights, Southern Nights: Atlanta's Holiday Decorating Contest

When: November 23-December 20, 2007

The competition will be tough. The news this AM showed a house with 43K computer-controlled lights, which would put the Griswold's house to shame.

Where: Atlanta Insider at www.Atlanta.net