Hiding the centerpiece: the Dekalb County Courthouse

Here I am complaining. Sorry. My errands take me through Decatur several times a week and it's a treat. My complaint: they've hidden the sunny south side of the courthouse and it's a shame as the south west quadrant of downtown Decatur is not it's best face.

The north facade, always in shadow, is a zen view. It dominates the Decatur hilltop but you can see it for just one block. You first see it from the corner of Clairmont and Commerce framed by trees and buildings. The full facade finally emerges when you get to Ponce. Nice. You've found a hidden gem.


The south facade and obelisk look great in the sunlight.


But you can only see the south face on foot becuase of the bandstand which is quite nice by itself.


But what were they thinking in 1996?


The downtown hill top is more visible from the south sarting across the tracks at College Avenue.


They hid the courthouse behind bandstand and landscaping.


But we still get to see a bit of the roof.


From just north of the tracks, Decatur High School on the left.

Art Strolls at Castleberry Hill and Studioplex, Jan. 2008

Art strolls are perfect architecture tourists: They are free. We see a variety of art, artists, and galleries We usually stroll in architecturally interesting buildings and neighborhoods. And - although your blog host hasn't a cool bone in is body - there is a brief sense of the coolness of art discovery. (Not all is perfect with the PR part of Art Strolls, see my notes about the Telephone Factory Art Stroll.)

So when Dawn Sanders-Meyers invited me to the revival of Second Wednesday Art Stroll at Studioplex in the Old Fourth Ward, Katherine and I jumped. Not too much art yet but the stroll was easy, great parking. The Studioplex loft conversion is much more impressive than I'd expected.

Meg Aubry at Gallery Stokes in Castleberry Hill:


The Castleberry Hill 4th Friday ArtStroll is well established but going down there on a dark Friday night in January can be a shock. There is no other place in Atlanta that feels less like Atlanta. I'd suggest you do your first stroll with someone who has been there before. Knowing where the action is make the tour more fun and less scary.

Ernesto Bertani at Besharat Gallery, Castleberry Hill


You might enjoy my posting about the "Castleberry Hill Loft Tour 2008" and "From the roof top of Castleberry Point Lofts"