Savor Decatur
This October, not only do we embrace the season of comfort foods and gatherings around the table, but we also mark a significant milestone—one full year of bringing our community together through the pages of this magazine.
When we first set out on this journey, our vision was to create a publication that celebrates the heart and soul of our town. I cannot think of a more perfect way to celebrate one year of Decatur City Lifestyle than with our Food & Drink issue because after all, if there was ever a right way to celebrate, it's dinner and drinks in Decatur.
This issue is a testament to food's power to bond us together. We’re excited to highlight some of the most intriguing spots in town. Discover the rich flavors and cozy atmosphere of a new amaro and wine bar led by James Beard Award Winning Chef, Terry Koval, read about The Giving Kitchen going the extra mile to support food service workers, and get the inside scoop on the ultimate burger club opening this fall.
As we celebrate the harvest season, we also celebrate the connections we’ve built with you, our readers. Your support, feedback, and shared love for this community have made this journey incredibly rewarding.
A huge thank you to our local advertising partners. These independently owned businesses are led by some of the most innovative, kind-hearted, Decatur-loving people I’ve had the pleasure of knowing. Without these partners, there would be no Decatur City Lifestyle magazine.
We are excited to continue this journey with you, exploring new ways to connect, inspire, create, and nourish— through the stories we tell, the meals we share, and the community we gather with.
Thank you for being a part of our first year. Here’s to many more seasons of celebration, together. Long live local storytelling.
Cheers to you, Decatur.
With heartfelt gratitude,
October 2024
PUBLISHER
Caroline Ficken | caroline.ficken@citylifestyle.com
EDITORIAL COORDINATOR
Natalie Fox | natalie.fox@citylifestyle.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Josh Cornwall, Julianna Bragg, Jeremy Rhett
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
John Wachs, Jonathan Wade, Matt Boggs, Edward Rhett
Corporate Team
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Matthew Perry
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HR Janeane Thompson
AD DESIGNER Mary Albers
LAYOUT DESIGNER Jamie Housh
Fawn Wine & Amaro Bar
Photography: Matt Boggs
: Elevating Equity with Top-Tier Design, Cost Effective Solutions, & Untmatched Construction Experience. www.ddtotalconstruction.com
city scene
WHERE NEIGHBORS CAN SEE AND BE SEEN
1: My Panda and Clarity Fitness partner together to provide exclusive offers to kickstart your wellness journey. 2: The Paper Airplane Competition at Beacon Hill Middle & final Eagle Scout project for DHS senior, Lyndon Warren. 3: Decatur is home to Congressman John Lewis’ statue in front of the Historic Dekalb County Courthouse. 4: La Chiquiada launches the cutest merch! 5: The Blair Building is looking colorful and stylish thanks to Studio Wythe. 6: Pop Up Flowers hosts floral arranging in their new space at the Globe Arts Center. 7: SOLEplay drops new collection in stores and online!
business monthly
13th Annual Madison Avenue Derby
A day of family fun featuring creatively-themed, gravity-powered, “soapbox derby” style cars racing down Madison Avenue, is on Saturday, October 12, 2024! The event supports local non-profits focused on serving the needs of children by selecting a beneficiary each year. This year, support will go towards ReMerge’s Giving Grace program which is focused on fighting hunger, with a special fund for Decatur area families in need. For more information, visit madavederby.org and follow@MadAveDerby on social.
Agnes Scott College's Fifth Annual Women's Global Leadership Conference
Wednesday, October 9, 2024 Agnes Scott hosts its annual Women’s Global Leadership Conference. Hear some of the most sought-after thought leaders and advocates in Georgia engage in conversations around Inclusive Health Equity. Among the speakers is Dr. Mandy Cohen, Director for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), who will frame the conversation in a fireside chat with college president, Leocadia Zak. Veteran journalist Rose Scott (WABE) will serve as a panel moderator.
2024 Decatur Book Festival
Join us for the 2024 Decatur Book Festival, a vibrant celebration of literature and community on October 4-5. This year’s festival features a diverse lineup of activities including author panels, book signings, storytelling sessions, chef demonstrations, and family-friendly events. Highlights include engaging sessions with Keynote speaker Joyce Carol Oates and " Kidnote" speaker Stacey Abrams, along with a variety of exhibitors, vendors, and sponsors. For more details, visit decaturbookfestival.com. Art by Decatur-based Morgan Winters @morganwintersillu
Photography by Hector Amador
Art by Morgan Winters
Approachable and Effective
Psychotherapy
& Holistic Health
Our expert therapists and holistic provider have diverse and specialized training to best meet a range of needs. We prioritize treating our clients as human beings with strengths to build upon, rather than presenting problems to be fixed. Whether you are experiencing stress and burnout, trauma, psychological challenges, relationship struggles, or life transitions, we are here to compassionately and mindfully offer our expertise and experience. All are welcome and safe here.
IN MOURNING AND JOY, WE SHARE A MEAL
The Giving Kitchen’s life-saving resources serve those who serve us.
ARTICLE BY NATALIE FOX PHOTOGRAPHY BY JONATHAN WADE
The Giving Kitchen began with one story and has spawned thousands. Literally, thousands: 21,000 people have been served as of their July reporting. That figure doesn’t even include their families, over 50% of whom include at least two children. The impact has been hugely felt and publicized in the eleven and a half years since the organization’s inception. Awards have been won, partnerships forged, and the ripple effect has shone a spotlight on the deep kinship and unity of the food service industry as a whole. The ripple effect Jen Hidinger-Kendrick, Founder, pours the most energy into is the one that makes its way into everyday families’ living rooms.
Photo by: Pam Lennard
This organization works tirelessly to support every food service individual who qualifies. Financial and mental health crisis aid are the pillars of The Giving Kitchen’s offerings. Stability Network (their resource referral program) began as a back-of-napkin service and grew from there. The entire team is trained in Question Persuade Refer, one of the nation’s leading suicide prevention programs, on how to spot someone at risk of harming themselves and redirect them to the best possible resources. Their interpretation service is equipped to translate within 5 seconds to over 180 languages, ensuring no barriers exist to receiving the help and care anyone might need - and it’s all accomplished over a phone call.
Food service is vital to every community and is the second largest industry in The United States, right behind the U.S. government. In cultures worldwide, sharing a meal represents community and camaraderie. In celebration and mourning, in sadness and joy, food binds us. Developing bonds with your favorite bartender or server is a universal experience. These relationships imbue our nights out with a communal sense of familiarity and friendship. Jen is particularly fond of the power of a lone bar seat; the opportunity to strike up a conversation with a stranger, and hear previously unheard stories and perspectives.
Growing up with a Spanish mother, Jen developed a passion for food during their annual summer holidays in Spain. At the age of seventeen, she met her late husband, Ryan Hidinger, whose cancer diagnosis and its accompanying community response spawned the organization’s inception. It was love at first sight, and he was already an accomplished chef in Atlanta. Jen has truly been surrounded by the power of food her entire life. She married John Wayne Kendrick in 2017, who previously served as a bartender at the Decatur staple Kimball House; food really is the ultimate connector.
The Giving Kitchen is dedicated to serving 100,000 workers and their families by 2030. Spreading awareness of their mission is the best way to contribute. Taking place this month, “Dining with Gratitude” is their largest national campaign. It offers restaurant partners an opportunity to educate their staff and patrons on the organization and its resources. On givingkitchen.org/dwg you can see all participating restaurants across the country. Give them your business throughout October, and while you’re there, ask your server if they’ve heard of The Giving Kitchen. It might be the exact lifeline they’re looking for.
ARTICLE BY JOSH CORNWALL | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN WACHS
SMILEYS BURGER CLUB HAS EMERGED IN DECATUR AT JUST THE RIGHT TIME, OFFERING AWARD-WINNING BURGERS AND VIBES.
TIME TO SMILE
A bite into a well-crafted cheeseburger can turn a day around, and for burger lovers in Decatur, there is a new place slinging out smiles in a wrapper.
Smileys Burger Club has been offering good vibes and taste-bud-pleasing beef in its new brick-and-mortar spot on E. Howard Ave this summer. The burgers really are that good, evidenced by the
Rooted in simplicity, both in operations and offerings, Smileys has grown into something bigger than co-owners Ean Camperlengo and Ross Winecoff had imagined when they were first brainstorming. While the team behind Smileys was busy building their fried chicken restaurant, Mothers Best (another pop-up quick food service that
“I THINK IF YOU HAD TO SUM IT UP, WE WANT THE CULTURE TO BE THAT OF FUN AND LIGHTHEARTEDNESS.”
long lines, early sellouts, and Atlanta foodie influencers flocking to the tiny hole-in-the-wall - even though Smileys doesn’t officially open until October.
Smileys Burger Club isn’t just another Atlanta burger spot, though. It’s a joyful throwback to the golden age of the burger at American diners and dives when simplicity reigned supreme. This unassuming little spot has quickly become a local treasure, and its story is as delightful as its name implies.
The 1950s nostalgia is palpable, with old rock ‘n’ roll and early R&B tunes traveling within earshot of the outdoor establishment. And don’t forget about the friendly smiley-face mascot beaming from every corner. “If you had to sum it up, we want the culture to be that of fun and lightheartedness,” the founder explains.
This throwback vibe isn’t just for show—it’s a carefully crafted experience designed to make every visitor feel like they have found a place they can make themselves right at home.
has anchored its home in Decatur) they found themselves craving a different culinary challenge. “Honestly, the idea came out of necessity,” says the founder, reflecting on the birth of the concept. “We were about to fry chicken for a long time,” says Camperlengo, pausing. “We thought, let’s do something different.”
And so, Smileys Burger Club was born.
“The name was meant to invoke a feeling of belonging. Hence, the club,” says Camperlengo. “But also, you can't say Smileys without smiling.”
Smileys Burger Club takes a refreshingly different approach to many of its burger-flipping peers, who offer expanded menus and flavor fusions. There is no trick. No ball underneath the cup. “It’s a true-to-itself burger joint,” Camperlengo says. “We have one burger. That’s all we do. If you like this type of burger, you’ll love us because this is all we do.”
This singular focus allows Smileys to perfect every element of its menu.
Each ingredient is meticulously chosen and prepared in a way that has been perfected through trial and error—consistent as it is simple. “The most important thing for this concept was to simplify the offerings,” Camperlengo explains. “Burgers and fries work—don’t mess with it too much. Keep it simple, stupid.”
But don’t let the “plainness” fool you— Smileys Burger Club is committed to topnotch quality. They receive their ingredients from a trusted purveyor in Houston, which ensures that every burger that leaves their kitchen is made with care. “I source all our highest quality ingredients through their app—using a local salesman with a local family,” Camperlengo notes.
From the moment Smileys opened its window on a limited basis on July 20, the Decatur community embraced it with open arms. The decision to move from a pop-up at various places around the city–including Sceptre Brewing Arts in Oakhurst and the beer garden at Brick Store–to a permanent location was driven by a desire to create a lasting gathering place, and the response has been nothing short of overwhelming. “This spot has always been such a cool little shack, and I think it has seen a few great operations already,” Camperlengo muses. “When the idea became more real, and the numbers added up, [this spot] was a match waiting for us!”
Regulars have already become a fixture at Smileys, with families strolling in for a quick bite, friends catching up over burgers and fries, and even three generations of a family dining together at the outdoor tables. “People have shown up! And continue to show up,” Camperlengo says with genuine gratitude. “We’re super stoked to piggyback on the community vibe that’s already been created here in Decatur.”
“IT’S A TRUE TO ITSELF BURGER
JOINT…THAT’S
WHAT WE DO.”
Launching Smileys wasn’t without its challenges. Balancing the opening of another restaurant, welcoming a new baby just two weeks after launch, and trying to keep up with the unexpected demand, the team had their hands full. “I’d say the biggest challenge is really just trying to keep up with the response and demand!” Camperlengo admits. “We are literally bursting at the seams and exceeding all expectations for the space itself.”
As Smileys Burger Club continues to carve out its niche in Decatur, there’s always room for new ideas. When asked about the future of the business, Camperlengo pulls out a classic reference to the animated comedy “Futurama.” “Smileys Burger Club is on the move. For this hip, young BURGER company, tomorrow is today and today is yesterday. You heard me. Smileys Burger Club: Limitless potential, boundless horizons, the unstoppable juggernaut of the corporate universe.”
The universe may have to wait, but for now, there will be no shortage of smiles being dished out by this most welcome addition to the city.
Minuteman
LIGHT COLOR SHIRTS
100
Gildan Ultra Cotton or Similar
Let Your Taste Buds Travel
ARTICLE BY NATALIE FOX
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MATT BOGGS
Fawn Wine & Amaro Bar will bring intimate elegance to Downtown Decatur in Chef Terry Koval’s most personal project yet.
Welcome to a feast for the senses: meticulously selected music, visionary amaro cocktails, and poignantly flavored seafood. Fawn Wine & Amaro Bar promises a cross-cultural experience emphasizing dark and moody intimacy. Inspired by European wine bars, the small and narrow space allows energy to swirl, with limited seating for a cozy and close-knit vibe. Stepping in, one is meant to be enveloped in its welcoming ambiance, featuring a dash of old-world elegance with fresco-type walls and warm, low lighting.
This newest venture from Terry and Jenn Koval, alongside beverage extraordinaire Matt Watkins, is referenced as The Deer and the Dove’s baby sister. It’s a narrow space, seating around forty, housed in one of Downtown Decatur’s remaining historic buildings. Dry-aged seafood, volcanic wines, and innovative amaro cocktails have been conceptualized with the care and creativity we come to anticipate from this team.
Terry Koval, a James Beard award-winning chef, has crafted a stunning seafood menu of eight small dishes derived from Italian-Mediterranean food. He utilizes dry aging to bring out the natural oils of the exotic, high-end fish, resulting in intensified flavors and incredible tenderness. Matt Watkins has created a streamlined and focused drink menu, with French and Italian influences, crafted to pair beautifully with the cuisine. Jenn Koval, Terry’s wife, is the brains behind the bar’s gorgeous design. She hones in on the sort of casual refinement everyone can enjoy and feel comfortable within, all while kicking back in time. One of the standout pieces will be a row of six-foot-tall antique factory mirrors from England, expanding the space and highlighting their concrete bar.
Fawn Wine & Amaro Bar is made for your Decatur date night itinerary. Perfect for pre-dinner (hello, caviar service) or post-dinner (amaro is a digestif!) it’s centrally located and radiantly romantic. You might even be able to snag secret seats in the kitchen for a truly exploratory experience. Keep an eye out for their grand opening, and let your taste buds travel.
ARTICLE BY JULIANNA BRAGG
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN WACHS
ON AIR WITH RADIO ROASTERS
WHERE COFFEE MEETS COMMUNITY: RADIO ROASTERS IS REIMAGINING THE DECATUR COFFEE SCENE.
When Chip Grabow opened Radio Roasters Coffee in 2014, his mission was simple: become the great neighborhood coffee roaster. Although Grabow has been working in the news industry for most of his life, when he moved to Decatur, he felt inspired to upscale his small home roastery into a business that would bring him closer to the customer experience to help each individual find the most satisfying coffee to fit their needs. Today, the shop roasts around 2,000 pounds of beans weekly to deliver specialty coffee in-house and to local businesses.
“We are focused on the quality and diversity of flavors to help people make new coffee discoveries.”
Radio Roasters also never settles when it comes to finding great blends; the company constantly brings in interesting samples from around the world, including countries like Guatemala, Columbia, and Ethiopia, to roast and assess which ones customers would enjoy the most.
The roastery features a “Full Spectrum” line, enhancing Radio Roaster’s regular coffees and highlighting the coffee's unique processing method. San Mateo Yoloxochitlán, a blend from Mexico, is processed through a double fermented technique, which changes the flavor profile to include strong notes of peach, plum, and a honey-like sweetness. Coffee enthusiasts looking to sample some of these specialty brews can be on the lookout on Radio Roaster’s Instagram page or mailing list for updates on the roastery's Saturday cuppings, which invite the local community to taste different coffee offerings–sometimes based on a specific theme–while gaining a better understanding of distinct processing methods. Looking ahead, Grabow is prioritizing Radio Roasters’ streak of success as an excellent boutique coffee shop by continuing to provide the community with the best specialty coffee available.
REVIEWS MATTER.
Check
Oakhurst Porchfest Celebrates a Decade
A PERFORMER’S PERSPECTIVE ON WHY HUNDREDS DONATE THEIR TIME AND ENERGY.
ARTICLE BY JEREMY RHETT
PHOTOGRAPHY BY EDWARD RHETT
When I first heard about Oakhurst Porchfest, I was hooked. In 2015, after 8 glorious years of playing in Decatur’s infamous Dad band, The Grits, I was searching for my next musical endeavor. Porchfest gave me a mission to start something new. There was Chris Neff, musical prodigy, who I had jammed with on a rowdy New Year’s Eve soiree at the Clark house; and he had a friend who played the banjo. It wasn’t long after the Porchfest announcement that we were on our way to crafting a performance for the inaugural event. This year, O.P. celebrates its tenth year(less that awful Covid pause), and I will grace the porch once again with the Tiger Kings, slamming out a “Best of Porchfest” set. In the decade since that first date, we have played parties, REAP fundraisers, Oakhurst Garden events, Bulldog Bashes, Breweries, and Amplify Decatur. We’ve found ourselves on the Decatur Square bandstand and on the stage of the Fox Theater - it was all spawned by Porchfest. Our journey is not unique. This is the event that gives everyone an opportunity to chase their 15 minutes of fame. And for those with more experience, it provides a connection with audiences that is more intimate than many other venues. It seems that every musician in the Decatur area participates in at least one performance at Porchfest. Bradley Jacobsen, drummer extraordinaire, has been known to lay down the grooves on three porches in one day, employing a golf cart to lug gear through the grid. Terry Cannon, with the voice of an angel, traveled to multiple performances in 2022 to join the Thrillbillies, Maxwell Street Band, and an acoustic duo, following a foot-tendon surgery. His daughter, Samantha, provided roadie support. Lives are positively altered by the musical bonds formed and the paths laid for endeavors beyond Porchfest.
The crowd-sourced nature of Porchfest is much of the appeal. As a businessman who earns a living through profit, there is something incredibly liberating about being involved in something that is not about money. Oakhurst residents offer up a most precious asset: their homes. Local musicians put their talents and passions on display, all without consideration for the green stuff that makes the world go round. Volunteer block captains sacrifice their time and energy to bring order to the chaos. While there are welcome vendors providing vittles to munch, the drive of the event is music, not commerce. There is purity in this sharing of resources. Many musicians form friendships with their hosts. In my case, it’s been an engaging decade of playing on the same porch year after year. The Deodhars have been fun, inviting, and generous of spirit in everything related to the day. Sharing builds trust, which creates friendships, thus strengthening community.
When pondering why this occasion means so much to so many, several thoughts come to mind: Connection. Creativity. Sense of Purpose. In an increasingly technologically isolated society, perhaps we crave what feels distant for many… The need to be with others, in person, live, in the flesh… The sense of connectivity that comes from hosting an enormous endeavor in one pedestrian-friendly neighborhood. We long for the days of unannounced house visits and conversations on the lawn, of sweet teas on the porch with a friend from down the street. These themes are amplified by the thousands, and wonderful things result. Oakhurst retains many of these elements and invites others to join in on the fun for a day.
Now tell me - are you hooked, too?
“There is something incredibly liberating about being involved in something that is not about money.”
events
A SELECTION OF UPCOMING LOCAL EVENTS
OCTOBER 5TH & 6TH
2024 Decatur Book Festival
Downtown Decatur | 10:00 AM
Experience a dynamic celebration of literature and community across various exciting locations in Decatur. There is something for everyone— from author panels and book signings to storytelling sessions and family-friendly activities. Whether you're a passionate reader, a food enthusiast, a fan of live performances, or simply looking for a day out on the town, we’ve got you covered! For more details, visit decaturbookfestival.com
OCTOBER 9TH
Agnes Scott Hosts Women's Leadership Conference Exploring Inclusive Health Equity
Presser Hall at Agnes Scott College | 8:30 AM
Join Agnes Scott College for its 5th Annual Women's Global Leadership Conference. On Wednesday, October 9, 2024, come hear Georgia leaders discuss Inclusive Health Equity in our communities and our nation. Register and learn more at https://bit.ly/2024WGLC
OCTOBER 12TH
Decatur Street Names Cemetery Walking Tour
Decatur Cemetery | 11:00 AM
Decatur Cemetery hosts a free, fun, informative tour focused on Decatur Street Names. Zack Ray, City of Decatur’s Cemetery Specialist and Rhonda Wildman, Chair of Friends of Decatur Cemetery, will lead a 1.5 mile walking tour. Learn how names like Candler and Scott, shaped our town. Bring water and meet at the Decatur Cemetery office at 229 Bell Street entrance.
OCTOBER 12TH
Madison Ave Derby
Bryan Pl and Madison Ave Intersection in Oakhurst | 11:00 AM
The 13th Annual Madison Avenue Derby is a day of family fun featuring creatively-themed, gravity-powered, “soapbox derby” style cars racing down Madison Avenue. The event is free to watch and supports local non-profits focused on serving the needs of children by selecting a beneficiary each year. For more information, visit madavederby.org.
OCTOBER 19TH
Oakhurst Porchfest's 10th Year
Oakhurst | 12:00 PM
The ultimate grassroots music festival is back for its 10th year! On Saturday, October 19, join your neighbors as Oakhurst transforms into one huge, music venue. DCL partner Studio Wythe will host Quiet Hounds on Maxwell Street and serve beer with a $5 suggested minimum donation to raise money for L'Arche Atlanta. Learn more about Oakhurst Porchfest at oakhurstporchfest.org
OCTOBER 26TH
Decatur BBQ Fest
Oakhurst Village | 12:00 PM
The annual Decatur BBQ Festival in Oakhurst is back and benefitting the Solarium! The Solarium is a Decatur-based non-profit organization that provides community support by hosting and supporting events and providing grants to non-profit groups throughout the Atlanta area. You don’t want to miss the variety of food, beverages, music, family fun, and vendors!
