Dinner at The Brick Store Pub in Decatur, Georgia

Brick Store Pub is across
the street from the Dekalb
History Center Museum.

 There's outdoor seating.

The first floor eating area.

The downstairs bar

Part of The Brick Store Pub's

extensive beer selection.

Here's the link to a CNN video of The Brick Store Pub's massive beer selection.  

The upstairs bar

I like the exposed beams

& old brick walls.

We peruse the very long,

extensive list of beers.

Jim recommended the

Reissdorf Kolsch.

I like this mild German beer.

The Appetizer Plate:
Pickled Okra, Cauliflower,
Red Onion, Asparagus,
Squash & Mustard Seeds
with Pimiento Cheese 
topped with Bacon &
Red Pepper with
Crackers






Eric and I are introduced to Pimiento Cheese, a Southern specialty.  It's tasty!  We decide that we would never, ever say no to pickled Okra, Asparagus or Mustard Seeds.

Eric & I ordered the Fish &

Chips with Remoulade Sauce

that Jim recommends.

Jim's right.  The Fish and Chips is delicious!  The Remoulade Sauce is a tasty accompaniment.

Tibetan Monks Create a Mandala at the Michael C. Carlos Museum at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia

Emory University and Tibet have been partnering for nineteen years to bring together the best of Western and Tibetan Buddhist intellectual practices to benefit humanity.  Programs include Study Abroad opportunities and the Buddhist Center of Dialectics.

As part of this Tibet Week
Activities, Buddhist Monks
are creating a Sand Mandala
at the Michael C. Carlos
Museum.

The Altar includes a photo

of the Dalai Lama.

Monks have been constructing
the Mandala for several days.







The Mandala is a spiritual symbol that represents the universe.

The bowls on the table behind

the Mandala hold the different

colored sands used by the

monks to create this beautiful

image.

I admire the intricacy of
the Mandala's design.

Here's a link to watch a time-lapse video of the construction of a Mandala.  It usually takes four to five days to construct one.  When completed, the Mandala becomes a sacred space and serves as a receptacle for deities and the collection point for universal forces.  People are invited to see the completed work.

A Closing Ceremony is performed to dismantle the Mandala.  Monks sweep up the sand and put it in little bags.  The bags are given to guests in attendance as blessings for health and healing.

Why destroy a beautiful work of art?  Everything in live is fleeting, in flux. Dismantling the Mandala is the acknowledgement that nothing in life is permanent.

Eric & I Get a Behind the Scenes Tour of CNN in Atlanta

Jim's wife, Gina, called a friend
& arranged a tour of CNN 
for Eric & me.






Visitors aren't allowed to take pictures as they tour the building, BUT, a tour guide can take pictures, in specific places throughout the building.

At the start of our tour...

Eric and I visited CNNEspanol.  This news section broadcasts Latin American and World News to Spanish speaking countries in the Western Hemisphere.

The large CNN Newsroom
has small groups working
on different aspects of
news production.






Staff monitor networks in the United States and around the world to gather news stories. One group creates the banners that identify people and topics on news shows for news shows. Others work on the crawl that moves across the bottom of the TV screen in real time.

CNN networks' online presence is a big part of their news presence across all its networks.  Content is created for each network's website, Twitter and Instagram accounts.  Staff monitor website feedback and social media feeds.  Statistics are gathered for in house use and for advertisers.

Eric and I visited Control Booths where CNN staffers are producing every minute of an assigned news program.  Each segment is timed to the second.  A news-person's reading rate per minute is integral to planning and producing each program.  Every detail is reviewed, including the pronunciation of names of people being interviewed.

Staffers are dedicated to creating the banners that identify people speaking on news shows for each of CNN's news networks.  Others work on the crawl that moves across the bottom of the TV screen in real time.  Each banner and crawl reflects each network's focus.

CNN networks' online presence is a big part of their news platform across all its networks.  Content is created for each network's website, Twitter and Instagram accounts.  Staff monitor social media feeds and statistics are gathered for in house use and for advertisers.

The Editing Bays are staffed with people who create clear, concise video clips.  None of the Film Editors know what the next film clip topic will be, but they all know that the work must be done quickly and sent to a Control Room to be aired.

Headline News Network airs

 news during the day &

 mysteries at night.

Headline News Network offers more stylized, personality driven shows with national, regional and entertainment news.

Eric & I finish our tour &
thank our tour guide for
his time.

Eric and I learned a lot in one hour.  The men and women who work "behind the scenes" create the professional news shows that everyone expects to see any hour of the day.

Dinner at Fox Brothers BBQ in Atlanta, Georgia

Fox Brothers BBQ is the

place to go for BBQ in

the Atlanta area.

Twin brothers, Jonathan and Justin Fox, dish up Texas style BBQ, Ribs, Brisket, Chicken Wings, Hamburgers and more....  

Fox Brothers BBQ was featured by Chef Guy Fieri on From Biscuits to Brisket Episode of Dinners, Drive-Ins and Dives on August 7, 2015.  

The bar

The restaurant is busy.

Each table has a roll of

paper towels for sticky

fingers.

The walls are covered with
sports memorabilia.'s

Eric's dinner includes Ribs,

Pulled Pork, Brisket Chili

& Brunswick Stew.

Eric loves the Ribs.  They are fall off the bone meaty good.  The dry, chunky Pulled Pork is tender and smoky.  Eric tries several BBQ sauces and settles on a hot, spicy one, yum!  The Brisket Chili is sooo flavorful.  Brunswick Stew is a southern specialty made with Pork and Chicken.  It's delicious!

I chose Pulled Pork with
Fox-a-Roni & Tater Tots.







My Pulled Pork with mild BBQ Sauce was excellent. Fox-a-Roni is the Fox Brothers' Macaroni & Cheese, made with shells, covered with Brunswick Stew; a great combination of flavors.  It's been too long since I've eaten Tater Tots.  Yum!

Texas style BBQ is well represented here.  Thank you, Jonathan and Justin for great eats!

A Visit to ArtLot in Avondale Estates, Georgia

Jim took Eric & me to ArtLot 

in Avondale Estates.

This pop up art park highlights area's vibrant local art scene.  The sculpture, made from pieces of salvage, is wired for LED lighting. 

Jim tells Eric that ArtLot
stands on the concrete
flooring of a defunct
pizza restaurant.






I like the giant Jenga Game.  ArtLot is a place to enjoy art, hang out and play games.

A permanent Twister mat

is painted on the

 concrete slab.

Wooden pallets have been set up to display artwork.






A welcoming spot for
visitors to sit.

"The eyes have it."

Hey, I'm art! 

ArtLot is a fun spot to enjoy artwork and hang out.  I hope this concept spreads to other communities.