2024 DECATUR BOOK FESTIVAL
Atlanta Intown A Publication
LITERARY LUMINARY CIRCLE
BOOKSELLER CIRCLE
AUTHOR CIRCLE
BIBLIOPHILE CIRCLE
PARTNERING BOOKSELLERS
Joyce Carol Oates to headline Decatur Book Festival
By Collin Kelley
T e Decatur Book Festival (DBF) has announced that Joyce Carol Oates will be headlining a lineup of nationally and critically recognized authors Oct. 4-5.
DBF will take place across several di f erent locations in Decatur, including the First Baptist Church of Decatur, DeKalb County Public Library, Marriott Courtyard Hotel, T e Reading Room, T e Task Force for Global Health and
Square.
Oates has published more than 80 works of f ction, short stories, numerous plays, poetry, and non f ction including her latest re-issue of Broke Heart Blues, Joyce Carol Oates: Letters to a Biographer, and her most recent novel, Butcher. Oates is a recipient of the National Book Award, PEN America’s Lifetime Achievement Award, the National Humanities Medal, and
• Enclave of 36 intown cottages
• Historically inspired architecture
• Walk to Milam Park with pool, dog park and ball fields
• Electric car charger
• Two Car Garages
• Great Financing Options*
- No PMI
~ Up to $12,500 in down payment assistance
• Conveniently located near Decatur, Emory, Children’s Hospital of Atlanta, Tucker and downtown Clarkston
Joyce Carol Oates
Decatur
Decatur Book Festival in Downtown Decatur. (Photos courtesy DBF)
a World Fantasy Award for Short Fiction.
A keynote conversation between Oates and Joe Barry Carroll – former NBA AllStar, artist, author, and philanthropist – will take place on Friday, Oct. 4 at 7 p.m. at the First Baptist Church of Decatur.
“ T ere’s a special joy that comes from connecting today’s authors with the thousands of readers who attend our beloved event. It’s a celebration of all things literary that sparks social, creative and intellectual engagement,” says Denise Auger, DBF’s Program Director. “Our 2022 lineup highlighted so many brilliant local and regional authors. T is year’s expanded program includes a diverse array of writers from all around the country, including a spectrum of voices and talents from across the South.”
T e 2024 Festival lineup includes more than 100 literary talents including authors, poets, student emerging writers, journalists, artists, chefs and thoughtleaders. Partnering booksellers include
third installment of her children’s book series, Stacey Speaks Up.
Brave and Kind Bookshop, Charis Books and More, Eagle Eye Book Shop and Little Shop of Stories.
T is year’s festival will also feature longtime Georgia lawmaker, New York Times bestselling author and voting rights activist Stacey Abrams. Abrams will open Saturday’s events as the “Kidnote” speaker and share the
T e Task Force for Global Health is celebrating 40 years of service through a sponsorship of the Decatur Book Festival, which will include an open house and family-friendly science activities during the day at their Decatur headquarters on Ponce de Leon Avenue. Other sponsors include DeKalb County, Joe Barry Carroll Family Foundation, City of Decatur, City of Decatur Tourism Bureau, City of Decatur Development Authorities, Emory University, LuluMa Foundation, Rough Draft Atlanta, T e Atlanta JournalConstitution, T e Atlanta Writers Club, DeKalb County Public Library, DeKalb Library Foundation, Georgia Center for the Book, First Baptist Church of Decatur, Georgia Humanities and Agnes Scott College.
For more information on the Decatur Book Festival, visit decaturbookfestival. com.
Stacey Abrams
Joe Barry Carroll
Where to dine during the Decatur Book Festival
By Beth McKibben
If you’re attending the Decatur Book Festival, it’s the perfect opportunity to try one of the city’s award-winning restaurants. From hearty breakfast fare and Indian street food to tapas and Korean barbecue, check out these restaurant suggestions between book signings and readings.
Pastries a Go Go
235 Ponce De Leon Place | pastriesagogo.com
Tis popular breakfast and lunch spot recently changed ownership, but you’ll still fnd the restaurant serving its famous from-scratch cathead biscuits, brunch platters, and chicken salad sandwiches every day except Tuesday. Grab a pastry for the road, including sticky buns, Danishes, and mufns baked fresh daily.
B-Side and The Deer and The Dove
151 Sycamore St. | deerdove.com
Owned by James Beard award-winning chef Terry Koval, B-Side serves Montrealstyle bagels in the morning, followed by quiche, fresh-made sandwiches, and meaty “pounders” like the chopped cheese and Reuben in the afternoon. Head to Te Deer and Te Dove next door in the evenings, where Koval and his team ofer everything from crispy rabbit to duck fatpoached red snapper with cocktails and wine.
The Reading Room
429 Church St. | thereadingroomatl.com
Located in the former Java Monkey space, Te Reading Room ofers Decatur a cofee shop and wine bar rolled into one. Expect cofee, tea, smoothies, and pastries in the morning, followed by toasted baguette sandwiches and charcuterie and cheese boards with wine and cocktails in the afternoon and evenings.
Brick Store Pub
125 E. Court Square | brickstorepub.com
Tis award-winning beer bar features an extensive list of local and international brews on tap, not to mention a beer garden out back, a cozy bar upstairs, and
a bar in the cellar styled after a UK pub serving rare and vintage beers. Tere’s food, too, including giant soft pretzels, sandwiches, burgers, and fsh and chips.
Victory Sandwich Bar
and S.O.S. Tiki Bar
340 Church St. | vicsandwich.com & sostiki.com
For a quick lunch or dinner, Victory Sandwich Bar serves a menu of sliders like the spicy Tea Bird chicken with ghost pepper jack cheese or the Brisky Business with smoked brisket and provolone. At $6 a sandwich, you can order more than one. Add Victory’s popular Jack n’ Coke slushie for $5. Later in the evening, head down the small alleyway beside Victory for drinks and escapism at S.O.S. Tiki Bar.
Cafe Alsace
121 E. Ponce de Leon Ave. | cafealsace.net
Open for lunch and dinner, pop into this small French restaurant specializing in Alsatian cuisine, including spaetzle, tarte fambee, and choucroute garnie (sauerkraut, sausages, potatoes). For dessert, order the seasonal tarte tartin. Not open on Sundays.
The Iberian Pig
121 Sycamore St. | iberianpig.com
A favorite for tapas and wine on Decatur Square, Te Iberian Pig includes dishes like pan con tomate, patatas bravas, pork cheek tacos, and braised short rib empanadas. Order boards overfowing with a variety of cheeses and house-cured meats. Stop by after 4 p.m. for a snack and a drink during jamon happy hour.
D 92 Korean BBQ
225 E. Trinity Place | d92koreanbbq.com
Owned by the team behind 9292 Korean BBQ, D 92 serves KBBQ meats and seafood for grilling at your table. Tere’s also an all-you-can-eat KBBQ section.
Smiley’s Burger Club
310 East Howard Ave. | IG: @smileysburgerclub
Currently only open on the weekends, Smiley’s Burger Club keeps it simple and
The Reading Room on Church Street.
(Photo by Eugene Buchko/Atlanta Coffee Shops)
classic with burgers served as one, two, or three patties griddled and topped with American cheese, house-made pickles, and a rif on Big Mac sauce with sides of fries. Beer and wine are available. Head over to Kelly’s Market to purchase fresh salads or other pre-made deli selections to pair with your burger. Want cofee or a latte? Check out Opo Cofee next door.
Kimball House
303 E. Howard Ave. |.kimballhouse.com
Tis award-winning Decatur restaurant across from Smiley’s is known for its cocktails and wine, oysters, and French-Southern dishes like caviar and middlins
with Carolina gold rice grits, smoked fsh tartine, and duck breast with seasonal vegetables. Martini lovers should order the gin and French vermouth-based Kimball House.
Taqueria Del Sol
359 W. Ponce de Leon Ave.| taqueriadelsol.com
A perennial favorite for tacos stufed with fried chicken, vegan jalapeno refried beans, or spicy chopped smoked pork, Taqueria Del Sol often sees a line snaking out the door. But the food is worth the wait, as are the margaritas.
Chai Pani
406 W. Ponce de Leon Ave. | chaipani.com
Tis restaurant from James Beard award-winning chef Meherwan Irani features a menu of Indian street foods like sev puri dahi puri (SPDP), chicken kathi rolls, butter chicken bowls, and daily daal. Order a cup of chai or a mango lassi. Want a cocktail? Try the Kerala Colada with habanero-infused tequila or the Mohan's Old Fashioned with rum, chai syrup, and cardamon bitters.
Inner Voice Brewing and Glide Pizza
308 W. Ponce de Leon Ave. | innervoicebrewing.beer
Order a double IPA or Mexican-style lager from this downtown Decatur brewery to pair with a pizza from Glide. Te New York-style pizzeria features a takeout window inside the taproom serving slices and whole pies.
Chai Pani serves traditional and original takes on Indian street food. (Courtesy Chai Pani)