Decatur: What's Not to Love?

As a recent transplant, every day I find something new to love about Decatur.

Coming from a small town outside of Nashville (that I affectionately refer to as “Hooterville”) I wasn’t quite sure what to expect moving to an area as metropolitan as Atlanta. What I’ve found is a diverse community of warm, friendly people who have welcomed a stranger with open arms and hearts.

In the few months I’ve been here I have discovered several things (albeit somewhat random ones) that continue to delight me.

Dogs riding in cars. This never fails to make me smile. (Even when I’m being stared down at a stoplight by a UGA sweater-clad Schnauzer.) Decatur is a bone-a-fide (sorry) pet-loving town. I am devoted to Lola, my Chihuahua showgirl so seeing this love for animals displayed so publicly is such a treat. I believe it says a lot about the character of the people living here.

Your Dekalb Farmer’s Market. In the name of all that’s edible, where have you been all my life? Does Paula Deen know about this place? It is the mothership for foodies. Seriously. Not to mention that it’s practically a mini United Nations. From the minute you walk in you are surrounded by a multi-cultural mix of languages, people, and food that you won’t find anywhere else. Every visit is an adventure you can enjoy without getting shots and a passport.

Camellias. They are absolutely gorgeous and on almost every street. Growing up in L.A. (Lower Alabama) I helped my master gardener mother cultivate as many varieties of camellias as she could beg, borrow, or buy. After we moved to Tennessee, she was never able to get them to survive the harder winters. As I drive through local neighborhoods, the sight of those luscious blooms surrounded by their dark green, glossy leaves triggers happy memories of my childhood.

I could go on and on about the charming court square, the abundance of unique restaurants and pubs, the “walkability” of the town, the creative festivals, and the friendly open-mindedness of virtually everyone I’ve encountered. But you already know these things -- you live here, too. That said, I do have a few questions I hope you longtime residents will answer to help the new girl stand out a little less.

What is the proper pronunciation of “Ponce de Leon?” My natural instinct is to pronounce it “PAHNS day Lee-OHN” but after a few looks that said, “You’re not from around here, are you, sugar?” I’m pretty sure that’s not correct. (Remember, I’m from Tennessee where they pronounce “Lafayette” as “Luh-FAY-it.”)

Why is “Clairemont” spelled with an “e” on street signs in Decatur, but then changes to “Clairmont” after you cross Scott? I think my GPS is confused, too, because when I searched “hotel, Clairemont” it sent me to a rather sketchy hotel on Ponce.

And finally, why don’t we have a Trader Joe’s? <grin>