Travel

Hotel Bennett

Inside Charleston's Grand Hotel, a vision of 25 years Article by Lisa Thibault There are hotels you stay in, and there are hotels that tell a story the moment you walk in that leave you with an experience worth taking home. Hotel Bennett, on the corner of King Street and historic Marion Square in downtown Charleston, is unmistakably both and the perfect escape for the holidays. From the marble-clad Grand Court to the pink-hued glow of Camellias, every inch of this 179-room property was built...

Entertainment

More Than the Punchline

Decatur comedian Emily Holden turns stand-up and everyday interactions into shared laughter. Article by Decatur City Lifestyle You don’t have to buy a ticket to a stand-up show to encounter Emily Holden’s sense of humor. Around Decatur and metro Atlanta, she has hosted fundraisers and community events, produced local comedy shows, portrayed Mrs. Claus during the holidays, and even brought musical trivia to senior centers. Give Emily a microphone and a room full of people, and she seems right...

Life + Culture

People Who Show Up

Decatur is shaped by neighbors who give their time, talents and care to the community. Article by Amanda Sabetai Every city has a few standard defining characteristics, such as boundaries on a map, schools, businesses and public spaces. But what really sets one place apart from another is its sense of community and the people who participate in it. Decatur is shaped by the people who show up, both in visible ways and in quieter ways you may never see. They clean up roadways, serve on...

Life + Culture

Young Voices, Local Impact

Decatur gives teens a voice in their community and a firsthand look at how local government works. Article by Amanda Sabetai | Photography by City of Decatur Decatur residents may not always see the ways teenagers help shape their city. Decatur’s Youth Council gives members a chance to weigh in on city planning, work alongside city departments, organize community events and offer city leaders a perspective they can’t necessarily get from adults. At the same time, the members learn how local...

Shopping

Holiday Fun Starts Now

November brings plenty of reasons to shop local and get a head start on the season. Article by Decatur City Lifestyle The holiday season arrives early around Decatur Square. By the first weeks of November, local shops are rolling out extended hours, seasonal specials, and gift ideas, while holiday events begin popping up around downtown and nearby neighborhoods. There are ornament unveilings, Grinch appearances, Santa photos, artist markets, storytimes, shopping nights, and plenty of small...

Food + Beverage

A New Gathering Space for Food and Community

Vela Park Food Works brings local flavor and community together. Article by Amanda Sabetai | Photography by Southern Exposure Media Group Against the surrounding apartments and neighborhood streets, Vela Park Food Works is hard to miss. Its bright blue exterior rises along Second Avenue like a beacon, but the bigger surprise waits on the other side. The building opens onto an expansive patio and wide-open lawn where kids can play, dogs are welcome, and visitors can settle in with food from six...

Life + Culture

Start Your Engines, Oakhurst

Decatur's beloved Madison Avenue Derby returns October 24th — this time with an '80s twist. Article by Decatur City Lifestyle Every October, something magical happens on a quiet stretch of road in Oakhurst. The neighbors drag out their lawn chairs, kids press up against the curb, and one by one, wildly creative, entirely human-powered soapbox cars come flying down Madison Avenue. No motors. No shortcuts. Just gravity, ingenuity, and a whole lot of Decatur spirit. The Madison Avenue Derby...

Entertainment

Celebrating Decatur Stories and Community Partners

An evening brought together local partners, neighbors, and featured guests. Article by Decatur City Lifestyle Decatur City Lifestyle recently gathered community partners and people featured in the magazine for an evening of conversation, connection, and celebration at Fork & Vine Social. Guests included local business owners, community leaders, and neighbors whose stories appeared in the August and September issues, along with the magazine partners who help make the publication possible. The...

Entertainment

Fairies in the Garden

Returning to Woodlands This Fall — And This Time, It's About More Than Magic Article by Decatur City Lifestyle For 14 years, a quiet kind of magic has settled over Woodlands Garden every October. Tucked among the trails, nearly 200 tiny fairy homes appear — built from acorn caps, moss, bark, and pinecones, each a little different and worth stopping to find. But there's more happening in those miniature doorways and mushroom-cap roofs than meets the eye. The fairy homes are handcrafted by...

Home + Design

A Home for the Unexpected

Years of travel, discovery, and a shared love of unusual objects come together in Kudzu Archives, the latest evolution of a Decatur favorite. Article by Amanda Sabetai Kate and George Lawes don’t believe everything has to match. At Kudzu Archives, an 18th-century chest can sit beside something from the 1940s. A polished French vitrine can share space with simple country church pews. Midcentury modern and old-world European pieces coexist comfortably. “It was really freeing to mix it up and...