We Want to Hear From You About Rail Road Crossings

Planning began on the Railroad Crossing Improvements at Candler and McDonough Streets with a community workshop at City Hall on Thursday, November 12. The materials provided to residents and others at the workshop are available on the City website at www.decaturga.com/rrcrossings. A comment form is included asking for suggestions about how to make the railroad crossings safer and more accessible for pedestrians, bicyclists and others. Comments and suggestions received by November 30 will be summarized and published on the City website.

The Last Terrific Thursday

. . . before Thanksgiving is tonight! You can still claim the right to “getting your holiday shopping done early” if you buy your presents tonight and feel a sense of accomplishment before the holiday craziness starts.

The following shops are participating this Thursday:

- Blue Moon Designs
- Boogaloos Boutique
- Boutique Karma
- Cafe Alsace
- The Cooks Warehouse and Sherlocks
- The Cottage Beauty Studio
- Decatur Market and Gallery
- Fleet Feet
- Greene’s Fine Foods
- Heliotrope
- Hoopla
- Kaleidoscope Boutique
- Little Shop of Stories
- Melrose on Ponce
- Mingei World Arts
- Peggy’s Boutique
- Rockit
- Rose Squared Gallery
- Salon Red/ Salon Red Kids
- Sawicki’s
- The Seen Gallery
- Squash Blossom Boutique
- Taste
- Vivid Boutique
- Whit’s End
- Worthmore Jewelers

For more information on Terrific Thursdays, visit the webpage here.

Join the Cultural Arts Master Plan Process

See You at Terrific Thursday!!

Look for this sign in the window of participating Decatur businesses.

Terrific Thursdays continue tonight in Decatur! Not only can you find bargains and refreshments while shopping locally, but you can enjoy the new lights around the Square while riding the Pedicab. Wow- was there enough information in that sentence?

Seriously, tonight (and every Thursday through December 17) is the night you will want to shop Decatur. Businesses and restaurants are staying open late and offering discounts or refreshments, or both. We have also hired the Pedicab to transport you and your packages from place to place. Look for their lights and “Free Rides” signs.

The Pedicab is waiting to take you for a ride!

Look for the "Free Rides" sign.

The Bandstand Glows at Night

Hope to see you shopping and dining in Decatur!

Decatur Holiday Tour of Homes Tickets On Sale!!

The 27th Annual Decatur Holiday Candlelight Tour of Homes tickets are now on sale. I know everyone is going to rush out to get theirs just like they did the Beer Festival tickets!

This year’s tour features 8 Homes and 2 Points of Interest in the Clairemont/Great Lakes area of Decatur. The Tour of Homes committee has planned the tour so attendees could walk from home to home. There will also be a shuttle available, compliments of Decatur Active Living. You can park your car at the Decatur First Baptist Church on Clairemont and ride the shuttle to all the homes.

Tickets are $20 in advance and are being sold at The Seen Gallery on Church Street, The Seventeen Steps on Ponce de Leon Place, Bicycle South on North Decatur Road and Intown Ace Hardware on Scott Boulevard. Tickets will also be available during the Tour at each home for $25.

Proceeds from the Tour of Homes go to the Decatur Youth Fund and the Decatur Preservation Alliance.

For more information visit www.decaturtourofhomes.com.

November Classes at Mama Bath + Body

Mama Bath + Body, located behind The Cookie Studio on E. College Ave., offers a great assortment of homemade body lotion, candles, lip balms, soap and sugar scrubs. And now the recently opened store is offering two classes this month.

Free Tea Blending Workshop – Join the tea lady, Brandi from Just Add Honey, at the shop this Saturday, November 14th between 11am and 3pm. She will have a stock of tea-licious ingredients on hand to teach you how to blend your own flavor! She will also have her full selection of custom blended teas and will be offering savory suggestions for the holidays.

Soy container candlemaking 101 – Our long-awaited candlemaking classes are finally here! Learn how to save money by making your own all-natural soy container candles. Each participant will create and decorate their own soy candle to take home. This class includes an overview of the benefits of soy wax over paraffin wax candles. You will also learn about essential oils and will custom blend your own to scent your candle.

These classes sound like the perfect way to have fun and make some great personalized gifts for the upcoming holidays. Just a little something to think about on this Terrific Thursday!

Visit www.loveyourmama.com for more information.

Making Your Home Green

Want some new information on making your home more green? Join Peter Michelson of Renewal Design-Build and Joe Thomas of Renewal System Solutions this Saturday at 10 am at the Decatur Library to find out how to make your home more healthy. You will also learn how to improve the indoor air quaility of your home and protect your family from indoor pollutants.

The Decatur Library is located at 215 Sycamore Street in downtown Decatur. For more information visit www.Dekalblibrary.org or www.Renewaldesignbuild.com.

Public Input Meeting for Cultural Arts Master Plan

There will be a Public Input Meeting to introduce the Cultural Arts Master Plan process and begin to gather input regarding the arts in Decatur on Wednesday, November 18, 2009 from 7 – 8:30 p.m. in the City Commission Meeting Room, Decatur City Hall, 509 N. McDonough Street.

The Master Plan will include an inventory of existing cultural arts facilities, programs and public art located throughout the city, identify program and facility needs, and recommend partnerships to support the cultural arts in our community.

Please plan to join the conversation!  For more information call 404-371-8386 or email linda.harris@decaturga.com.  The arts plan information is also posted and updated on Decatur’s website.

Two Free Dance Events in Decatur

Join Several Dancers Core at “Lunchtime in the Studio” on Thursday, November 12th from noon until 1 pm. CORE dancers will share their experiences of working on Artistic Director Sue Schroeder’s newest work: The Point. The dancers will share information and insight on a number of creative processes that they have been exploring, and will show examples of the results. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and make comments on what they see. Free lunch for the first 40 attendees generously provided by Bistro in a Box and Starbucks. Then later that day, join them for “Salon” from 6 until 8pm.  This is the first in a series of Salons showing the development of artistic director Sue Schroeder’s newest work, The Point, in an informal atmosphere inviting discussion and dialogue about the creative process. Delicious refreshments are  Refreah fRefreshments for the Salon are generously provided by Pharmhouse Restaurant. Visit www.severaldancerscore.org for more information.

Fashion Over Decatur

Well, technically the event is called:

However, four of Decatur’s finest are participating. Are you confused? Well then, read on!

Fashion Over Atlanta is an annual event that celebrates shopping and fashion all across the city. Local boutiques pull out all the stops with specials, trunk shows, tastings and personal stylists. The city-wide event starts on Thursday, Nov. 12 and ends on Sunday, Nov. 15, but Friday is the official Decatur Day. Each one of Decatur’s boutiques is hosting a trunk show:

• Kaleidoscope Boutique – Fidelity Denim trunk show.
• Squash Blossom – Frye trunk show.
• Boogaloos – French Connection trunk show.
• Worthmore - Juacar trunk show from 11a.m.-7p.m., “Abstractions” art exhibition from 5 to 8p.m.

For more details and a complete listening of Fashion Over Atlanta events, visit www.fashionoveratlanta.com.

Are you excited? Kaleidoscope’s Camille is (below left)!