An Ode to Decatur
Hello friends. Apologies for my brief blogging hiatus; someone took a trip to the great city of Chicago and had to fight for computer time against a 17-year-old. I guess I just didn’t want it bad enough.
(And who’s going to fight for computer time when this is waiting outside?!)
Surprisingly, The Wren’s Nest did not collapse in my absence. In fact, everyone seems to be doing suspiciously well. I know it’s just a brave face, but I’m impressed nonetheless.
Now, while I love Chicago with a burning passion that seems unwilling to fade- and why should it?!- my current town of residence, Decatur, ain’t half bad either.
(I wish it really looked like this.)
Since I know you grouches accept nothing but hard evidence, I present the following: Decatur has been labeled as a hot spot for word nerds by the Atlanta Journal Constitution. A heaven, in fact. Looks like it’s time to go somewhere to celebrate (and not talk to each other while we read)!
Mentioned in the article are two very good friends of the Wren’s Nest, Little Shop of Stories and Wordsmith’s. To illustrate, I figure it’s time to let the cat out of the bag and expose the tangled Decatur web the Wren’s Nest weaves. Prepare to have your mind blown.
We’ll start with Wordsmith’s, where Lain was the first customer. Currently, the Wren’s Nest Publishing Co. editors have all of their picks, with an enticing sentence or two about their choice, on the shelves of Wordsmith’s. Neat, huh?
The Wren’s Nest Publishing Co.‘s magazine is being distributed by and for the Decatur Book Festival, which will be held over Labor Day Weekend. Co-founder of the festival, Tom, is one of the great minds behind The Duck and Herring Co., and has been working regularly with our editors as a voice of reason and experience, thank heavens.
Speaking of The Duck and Herring Co., another member of that braintrust is Terra, whose generously donated computer is currently 5 feet away from me (thanks Terra- the WNPCo. loves you for it!). Now, super sleuths, guess who manages the Little Shop of Stories? Terra! You’re right! 7 points for you.
(I stole this picture from Baby Got Books, who could have their own web sub-section entitled “People we’ve never met but are repeatedly linked to, and we like it”.)
I could go on -seriously- but I think you get the idea. We’re an incestuous bunch, no doubt, but with a heavenly playground like Decatur as the backdrop, why not keep it in the family?
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Amber Suitt
Program Director
Lain Shakespeare
Executive Director
3 Comments to An Ode to Decatur
i oft find myself frustrated whenever i have to leave decatur…i never thought i’d be in such a position to enjoy NOT driving as i have been the few months i’ve lived in this city.
gotta admit, a five minute walk to the store each morning isn’t a bad commute.
and those baby got books jokers are BAD NEWS i tell ya.:)
I was meeting a friend who works in Decatur for dinner and drinks last night and had some time to kill ahead of time. So after reading so much on here recently about Wordsmiths, I decided to check it out. Very nice. Still a work in progress, but I like the vibe. Laided back. My friend met me there and was also impressed. One of her favorite authors is Chris Moore and he is going to be there in Sept, so she was very happy. They’ll get some business out of her for sure.
Another benefit of Wordsmiths is the fact that it is right across the street from Twain’s, one of the funnest places around. I hadn’t been there since they remodeled but anyplace where I can have a beer, eat a meal, play pool, darts and bubble hockey is ok in my book!
Re: Twain’s, that is exactly right, Deb.
It helps if you can walk home.