Looking at art can actually reduce stress. According to U.K. research, participants reported a decrease in high stress levels after a brief lunchtime visit to an art gallery. In fact, in an analysis of 15 studies, noted Neuroscientist Oshin Vartain explained that our brain automatically triggers pleasure and reward when viewing art. Experience this calming effect for yourself by viewing the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s interactive website.
You can also join Decatur Active Living for the 3rd Sunday Stroll – this month we will do a tour of the painted electric boxes in downtown Decatur. Walking and art- a great way to distress!
Join Angie Macon, Executive Director of the Decatur Arts Alliance, for the May Sunday Stroll. Learn about public art as you stroll through Decatur to see what is on display.
Meet in front of the Decatur Recreation Center and be ready to walk at 2 p.m. The walk is free to the community!
Be sure to bring some water and comfortable shoes.
If it rains, the walk will be cancelled, so check back here if you are unsure.
There will be a community input meeting on Wednesday, May 11 at Ebster Recreation Center about the upcoming MARTA mural project. Meet the artists and give your input on the design of the mural. For more information or questions, contact admin@decaturartsalliance.org.
Student Art for Sale • Live Music on the Bandstand
SATURDAY, SEPT. 26 • NOON- 4 PM • RAIN OR SHINE ARTS EVENT ON THE SQUARE IN DOWNTOWN DECATUR
Returning for its third year, this wildly popular one-day arts event has been embraced by local students grades K-12 as a way to showcase their creativity and talent to the public. Shop at the juried outdoor artists market or enjoy live performances at the community bandstand!
Bike or walk on over and look for the big tent on the plaza packed with student artists showing off a bounty of jewelry, paintings, photography, drawings, culinary delights, and handcrafted goods, all for sale.
On the Community Bandstand is a nonstop line-up of high energy performances from wild-and-wooly rock combos to blues acts, singer-songwriters, soloists, and more.
The weather should be nice this weekend so get outside and enjoy Decatur!
Stroll on over to the Decatur Visitor’s Center/Decatur Arts Alliance Friday night, March 20 for the art opening Sightings 6 until 8 pm. Sightings features mixed media works by artist Terry Drahos, who divides her time between rural Nova Scotia and Atlanta. The event is free to the community.
On Saturday, Decatur Healing Arts, located in East Decatur Station, is having an open house. Stroll or bike on over to sample classes, get information on ways to stay healthy, and more. Click here for the demo schedule. Be sure to stay for my “all-levels yoga class” demo at 3:30 pm!
It will be a great weekend to pump up the tires and dust off the bike for a ride around Decatur and Avondale. Check out the Southern Bicycle League Ride Calendar for some local rides to join.
Time to recycle! Decatur Public Works located at 2635 Talley Street is holding an Electronics Recycling, Syrofoam Recycling and Shred event on Saturday, from 9 am until 1 pm. Information is here.
Stop by the Decatur Farmers Market for some fresh fruit and veggies, freshly baked bread, jams and more. Held weekly at the corner of N. McDonough and Trinity Place from 10 am until 1 pm.
Pick up or download one of the the Decatur Walking Tour brochures and explore a new part of the city. Brochures are available at the Decatur Recreation Center and the Decatur Visitor’s Center, or download one here.
On Sunday morning, join the cheering section for the Georgia Marathon in front of the Old Courthouse on Ponce. Runners will hit our city limits aorund 8 am. Be there to cheer them on! More info here.
What other ideas do you have for getting outside this weekend?
NEW THIS YEAR! Tie-dye your race t-shirt after the run!
Event shirt only guaranteed for registration by September 26, 2014.
This year, Decatur Education Foundation and the Decatur Arts Alliance are partnering on the run and proceeds will support art grants (in our schools and community) as well as the Mary Miller Decatur Youth Fund which provides scholarships for low-income students to participate in city programs.
Run for Justice 5K is last qualifying race in the Team Decatur Grand Slam Fitness Challenge andand will be held tomorrow morning at 9 am in Oakhurst. Walk up registration is allowed. Click here for information.
Friday Night, the Decatur Arts Alliance is holding an ArtWalk with 17 participating locations from 5-9 pm all around Decatur. Information is here.
Do you like Contra Dancing? The Chattahoochee Dancers are holding their annual event at the Decatur Recreation Center this weekend. Information is here.
Want to learn about group bike rides? Join Mike for the monthly Intro to Group Riding Skills Clinic. Meet at 1:30 pm at Glenwood Elementary School Parking lot and go on a 5 mile ride after some instruction. All levels are welcome. Helmets are required.
The Decatur Wine Festival is Saturday, but if you don’t have a ticket, you are out of luck. The event is sold out. But don’t worry, there will be entertainers around town participating in Sidewalk Saturdays. Take a stroll and enjoy FREE entertainment.
Looking to give handmade gifts for the holidays? Just want to give your creativity an outlet and explore new projects? We have classes for you in both the afternoon and the evening. Choose from these classes as an outlet for creative endeavors that will leave you with beautiful, hand made items to put under the tree for loved ones. We’ll get you started early in case you love it so much you need to design gifts for everyone you know!
Classes are held at Decatur Recreation Center, so sign the children up for an activity and treat yourself to something creative at the same time! It’s a perfect family outing, active, creative, and local. You might take a class while the children are at school, or you might come with them and you can both take classes.
Here are the creative, crafty, artistic offerings for adults:
Watercolor and Tea in the afternoon – 230p Th
Jewelry making, Scupting, and Bookmaking, a 3-part craft series – 1200p Tu
Drawing in a new perspective – 630p Th
Fearless Watercolor – 630p Th
Sewing Series 930a-1200p Mo, 700p-930p We
And don’t miss the exhibit during the Decatur Book Festival on the Book as Art…after which if you are feeling inspired, come take our bookmaking class in December.
There are many manys to stay active this weekend in Decatur: events, organized rides, art, places to walk or cycle to, and more. What are you waiting for? Get out of the house and enjoy your city!
Friday: Bike Decatur Mobile Social: 6:30 pm at the Church Street MARTA Station. Don your beach wear and join Decatur Active Living and Bike Decatur for a beach-themed leisurely 5 mile ride around Decatur neighborhoods. After the ride we will go to Beach Party and dance the night away! Helmets are required.
Decatur Beach Party: 5 – 11 pm, on the Square in downtown Decatur. Walk or bike to the event that is fun for the entire family. Children’s Boardwalk and music from A1A to dance to.
Saturday:
Visit the Decatur Farmers Market, 9 – 1 pm, at the corner of Trinity Place and N McDonough. Chef Eric Ottensmeyer from Leon’s will be demonstrating. Squash, blueberries and peaches are just some of the tasty summer foods available. Shop for a great dinner for Dad on Sunday!
Sidewalk Saturdays continue in downtown Decatur and Oakhurst from 3 – 6 pm. Thanks to the Decatur Arts Alliance, artists and musicians will hit the sidewalks. Have lunch and then walk or hop on your bike and ride to Harmony Park and back to downtown Atlanta to enjoy the day.
Sunday:
Join Bicycle South for their monthly Stone Mountain ride. Cyclists leave Bicycle South at 9 am. This is a no-drop ride. Helmets are required. After the ride there will be snacks at the shop. It’s my birthday so join the ride and help me celebrate.
Celebrate Father’s Day with an afternoon at one of Decatur’s pools or parks. Ebster pool is a great place to swim laps. Enjoy the adult playground at Glenlake Park while the children enjoy the children’s playground and then hop in the pool to cool off. Bring your toddlers to McKoy pool – with zero entry it is as close as you can get to the beach in Decatur.
Take a stroll through Woodlands Garden. You are welcome to visit for a quiet stroll any day during daylight hours. A walk through the woods on a hot day will cool you off and provide an escape from the city without having to leave the city! Consider walking or biking over as parking is limited.
Gael Doyle
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