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As announced this morning, Home Depot will shutting down its Landscape Supply store concept as part of an effort to focus on its core retail stores. As reported in the Atlanta Business Chronicle, “Atlanta-based Home Depot Inc. (NYSE: HD) spokesperson Ron DeFeo told Atlanta Business Chronicle the company will close five of the Landscape Supply stores in Atlanta and six in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area by Nov. 19.

“We had no plans to expand that concept and feel the resources would be a better benefit to entire organization if redeployed to our core retail stores,” DeFeo said. “We’re increasing our focus on the core business and we can serve the landscape supply customers in our traditional stores.”

About 380 employees will be cut when the 11 stores close, although Home Depot is hosting job fairs for Landscape Supply employees in Atlanta and Dallas on Friday for internal positions within Home Depot.”

With the shuttering of the Smyrna Vinings store, I suppose Jim N Nicks fans will be cheering as this will mean more parking for the popular local BBQ joint. Obviously the footprint is too small for Home Depot’s typical stores, so keep an eye out for something new. I’m sure it won’t take long for that space to be redeveloped due to its prime Smyrna Vinings location.

Every time you pick up the local newspaper or tune into your local or national news programs, there is an overwhelming theme that the housing market has collapsed and buying a home is the worst thing you could do or that there is no way you can sell your home in this market unless you discount it by 20%.

This simply isn’t true. John Adams wrote a great article home prices in the Atlanta market and really pointed out some great facts. Unfortunately, the article was on the last page of the Sunday AJC Homefinder, so not sure how many people even made it that far. Which is a real shame that every other article on the demise of the real estate market has been front page news.

One of the points that Mr. Adams made in his article was simply highlighting that much of the media buzz is based on national statistics, which can be heavily weighted by markets such as California and Florida which have experienced speculative inflationary pricing over the last few years and as a result will naturally have a correction.

While the Atlanta home market typically sees annual price increases in the 3-5% range, those markets were seeing 50% increases. Now I don’t remember anyone in the Atlanta area claiming that our prices should have also been increasing at a 50% rate, so I can’t figure out why everyone now thinks that prices are going to tumble dramatically.

“One interesting result of this most recent survey is that 18 of the 20 cities showing the lowest appreciation nationwide were located in either Florida or California. It seems that price declines are largely limited to those areas that experienced the most unrealistic price run-ups in the recent past.

One of the significant conclusions that can be reached is that the residential real estate market is not as bad off as the media would have us believe.”

I felt that the article was a fair picture of the market. It didn’t state that the market was great and that all was well in the world, but it also didn’t speculate that the housing market is collapsing. It was a well-balanced perspective on the current market.

Probably most important to remember, is that real estate is local and not national.  And by local, even to base statistics on Atlanta can be difficult. For example, the housing market in East Cobb is not linked to the real estate market in Suwannee. Buying a $500,000 Smyrna home is not the same as buying a $500,000 Buckhead home because the market fundamentals are different, the amount of inventory is different, the prospective buyers are different and the days on market are vastly different.

Click here to see  John Adams’ Atlanta housing market article in its entirety.

Will Walk for Wine

A wine tasting to benefit Alzheimer’s Association of Georgia

Saturday, September 8th

6:00 pm to 8:00 pm

At

The Wine Cellars in Smyrna Market Village
1295 W Spring Street, Suite 100
Smyrna, GA

LOTS of wines to sample from around the world - we will have several different wine “stations” in store!

Call for ticket information 770-437-1753

The Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk is the nation’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer care, support, and research.  Held annually in hundreds of communities across the country, this inspiring event calls on volunteers to become champions in the fight against Alzheimer’s Disease.

 Please come & join the Atlanta Parrot Head Club for an evening of wonderful wines, food, & of course tropical music.  Give to a great cause & help find a cure for Alzheimer’s Disease.

 $15.00 per person in advance, Tickets are $25.00 the day of the event

Tickets may be purchased at The Wine Cellars 770-437-1753

 For further information, please call Becky Kirbo 770-975-5959

Guys, the time has finally arrived! Tis the season of fight songs, your lucky game day shirt/hat, hot brats and cold beer, and sexy sorority girls in sun dresses. The college football season is right around the corner and you know what that means…

BUDWEISER’S 3RD ANNUAL PIG SKIN PALOOZA!!!!!!!

, cold Budweiser, hot game day food, sexy women, and of course viewing areas with tons of 50 inch plasma TV’s to keep you abreast of EVERY game all day long. And speaking of games, it is easily the biggest day of the year with key match-ups that will certainly have Bowl Game implications:

Tennessee vs. Florida (3:30PM)
Notre Dame vs. Michigan (3:30PM)
Ohio State vs. Washington (3:30PM)
Louisville vs. Kentucky (6:30PM)
Arkansas vs. Alabama (6:45PM)
USC vs. Nebraska (8:00PM)
Georgia Tech vs. Boston College (8:00PM)
Florida State vs. Colorado (10:00PM)

Budweiser’s 3rd Annual Pig Skin Palooza will be THE place to be on September 15th to see and be seen. Doors open at 2:00 PM and live music starts at 3PM and will keep you rocking late into the night. We have put together a band line-up that will be sure to offer something for everyone and is certain to make for a kick ass party!

Desire (U2 cover band): 3:00-4:00PM
Girls…Girls…Girls (80’s Hair Band cover band): 4:30PM-6:00PM
DMCB (Dave Matthews Cover Band): 6:30PM-8:00PM
Memory Dean (college cover band & original roots rock): 8:30 PM-10:00PM

Fall weather, great college football games, live music, hot women, cold Budweiser….why WOULDN’T you come out for Budweiser’s 3rd Annual Pig Skin Palooza. Tickets will go fast ($10 in advance and $15 at the door) so CLICK HERE to purchase your tickets today!!!

Nuevo Laredo Cantina

Muy Caliente! Get out your maracas and cha cha along with the mariachi band! Join Chair Lisa Fuller and Nuevo Laredo Cantina proprietor Chance Evans as they kick off the fall season with the hottest event of the year, Salsa for Dimes.

On Sunday, September 9th, Nuevo Laredo Cantina will be closed to the public but will open its doors from 5 to 9pm for this annual fundraiser to raise money for the March of Dimes mission of preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality.

Boasting of all you can eat and drink of Nuevo Laredo Cantina’s authentic Mexican cuisine and world-famous margaritas, Salsa for Dimes is a party not to be missed! This year’s event will feature entertainment by a live Mariachi band, an appearance by Miss Nuevo Laredo and will continue the tradition of exciting local celebrity bartenders taking position behind Nuevo Laredo’s bar and serving drinks to the fiesta patrons!

Celebrity bartenders are to include former U.S. Senator Sam Nunn, George McKerrow Jr., Belinda Skelton from the Neil Boortz show, Beth Weitzman from Jezebel magazine and Pano, Niko and I. Pano Karatassos.

Location: Nuevo Laredo Cantina
1495 Chattahoochee Avenue
Atlanta, GA 30318

Pricing: $75 per person.

The opportunity to get to eat Nuevo Laredo on Sunday is well worth the entry price, so be sure to come out in support of the March of Dimes. Click here for tickets.

If you think your little one is the next David Beckham or Ronaldino or if you just want a chance for the little ones to get you and play a little futbol, then you may want to check out this new program. Plus it will be great training for you future soccer moms and dads. Learn how not to terrorize and harrass the other players, coaches and refs.

WHAT: SMYRNA FALL’07 TODDLER SOCCER

WHEN: 15 SATS (10:30am), 18 Aug.-15 Dec. 2007 (x.9/1 & 11/24)

WHERE: CAMPBELL MIDDLE SCHOOL SOCCER FIELD

WHY: SAFE AND ENJOYABLE ENVIRONMENT CONDUCIVE TO LEARNING

HOW: EVITE SIGN UP FOR 5-15 WEEKS

FEES: 15wks ($180.00); 10 ($130.); 5 ($70.); 1wk ($15.)

GEAR: $25.00 for Optional 5 ITEM STARTER KIT (Bag, Ball, Socks/Shin guards, water bottle)

NOTE: USE PAYPAL, US POSTAL SERVICE OR HAND DELIVERY

MOTTO: “WIN OR LEARN!”

MISSION: PLAY FOR FUN AND AS LONG AS ONE CAN WALK!

VISION: WORLD PEACE THROUGH THE MOST POPULAR INTL SPORT

COACH: soccerge@comcast.net; 404-808-6089.cell/fax; 404-292-5116.home; www.soccerge.net

Saturday, September 8, 2007   8:00 AM
Vinings GA-Overlook III Building
Overlook III building faces 2859 Paces Ferry-enter building off Overlook Pkway
Atlanta , GA

Brief Description: Fast course with a 330 foot net down hill drop. The race starts on Mt Wilkerson and ends in the Chattahoochee River Park. The last mile is downhill on US41 to the River Park. The race is sponsored by Vinings Rotary and benefits Calvary Children’s Home, The Good Samaritan Health Center and the Vinings Rotary Charity Fund,
Prices: 5k Run/Walk: $18.00
1 mile Run/Walk: $18.00
5K-Participants under age 18: $10.00

Online Reg. Closes: September 5, 2007 11:59 PM Pacific Time

All registered participants will receive a T-Shirt. Awards will be given for M/F Overall,Masters,Grandmasters and top 3 place awards in 14 age groups from 10yrs & under to 70 and over. NEW THIS YEAR-more buses at finish line.
The Overlook III building address is 2859 Paces Ferry, but the entrance to the building is off of Overlook Parkway.

Buses will transport you from The river to the party at the Vinings Jubilee.

2nd Annual Tour of Homes

The second annual Vinings Historic Preservation Society Tour of Homes will be on Sunday, September 16, 12:30-5:00pm.  Five extraordinary homes have been selected to showcase, including one which has been featured in a national magazine. The residents who have graciously agreed to open their homes to the public are: Dr. Trevor and Jane Woodham, G.K. and Diane Johnson, Maarten and Annemiek Kuik, Bill and Jan Ferguson, and Harold and Rosemary Yourmans.

Tickets are $20 per person in advance; $25 at the door. Group discounts for 20 or more tickets are available.

THIS SATURDAY EVENING!

The Wine Cellars presents

Wine Stroll Proceeds Tasting

at Cafe Michel

Saturday, September 1, 2007

6:30pm - 8:30pm

Proceeds from this year’s Wine Stroll went to the Amir Askarian Fund. Join us as we make the proceeds presentation with a terrific sampling of wines from around the world.

The wine samples are complimentary - dinner is optional and not included.

Make it an evening and plan for dinner at Cafe Michel, while you sample wines at no additional charge.

RSVP to rrowe@winecellarsonline.com, or contact us at (770) 437-1753. Please direct all food/dinner related questions to Cafe Michel at chefmoe@cafemichel.com or contact them via phone at (770) 630-5694.

Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre - Jubilee Opening Celebration

A Community Celebration Presented With The Jubilee Cultural Arts Alliance Join A Selection Of Metro Atlanta Arts Organizations As They Pool Their Talent And Energy To Warmly Welcome The New Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre.

Program includes the Atlanta Opera, Georgia Ballet, Pebblebrook High School, Atlanta Ballet, Cobb Symphony, & Atlanta Boy Choir. The Jubilee Opening Celebration concert represents a collaborative effort between the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre Foundation and the Jubilee Cultural Arts Alliance and will feature six local arts organizations coming together for a diverse evening of arts programming.

The Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre is partnering with the Jubilee Cultural Arts Alliance for the first time on this project. As the facility is newly emerging, it is seeking out partnerships that allow it to expand and enhance existing arts programs and not replace or compete with existing efforts. The Jubilee Cultural Arts Alliance is a non-profit organization with a history of community arts programming and arts festivals since its inception in 1983.
When:
Sep 17, 2007 (Mon) 8:00 PM
Where:
John A. Williams Theatre

Tickets on sale now!
$5.00