Entertainment

Decatur Book Festival Returns

This Fall Decatur Celebrate Stories, Community, and Creativity once again Article by City Lifestyle Decatur Book Festival Returns This Fall Celebrating Stories, Community, and Creativity Every fall, downtown Decatur transforms into a vibrant gathering place for readers, writers, families, and creatives as the Decatur Book Festival returns for another inspiring weekend of storytelling and connection. Scheduled for October 2–3, 2026, the beloved festival continues its tradition of bringing...

Education

More Than Awards

Decatur Housing Excellence Awards shine a spotlight on our community's brightest achievements. Article by City Lifestyle   The Excellence Awards celebrate more than recognition. Students preparing for college, adults returning to school, residents serving neighbors, and community partners working together all gather for one evening of celebration. They represent what is possible when a community chooses to invest in people. Behind every scholarship awarded is a student who dared to dream...

Local Services

Helping Teen Artists Find Their Way

A Guide For Students And Families Navigating The Creative Path To College Article by Dana Zullo   I remember what it felt like to be young and creative, full of ideas but without anyone to help translate that energy into a direction. That's exactly why I do what I do today. I work with creative teenagers — artists, performers, designers — who are standing at one of the most thrilling and overwhelming crossroads of their lives. Portfolios. Auditions. Essays. Deadlines. Big decisions. All at...

Life + Culture

Art Brightens the World

New mural at Glennwood brings joy and playfulness Article by Sue G. Collins | Photography by Sidarth Kantamneni When students returned to school at Glennwood Elementary last month, they were greeted by a cheerful little gnome, a soaring eagle, and a bouncing basketball under a rainbow of sunny yellow, vibrant orange, and apple red. A new mural outside the auditorium was created by Glennwood parent and artist Jane Collins and artist Hannah-Rose Broom. Together, they brightened the space, a...

Travel

Meet Erin Camin: Styling Travel

From Burnout to Brilliant: One Decatur Global Journey to a Life of Travel Article by City Lifestyle   Erin spent fourteen years building a career in corporate advertising. From the outside, it looked like success. From the inside, it felt like exhaustion — the kind that doesn't lift with a weekend off or a vacation day here and there. "Feeling burned out and exhausted day after day was not the life I wanted to live," she says. So she did something most people only daydream about: she walked...

Life + Culture

Cool Teens with a Cool Business

From a Disney World Line to a Thriving Business: How Decatur Brothers Kingston and Jackson Suttle Built Suttle Snow Together Article by Amanda Sabetai   What do you get when you combine a hot summer day with a two-hour line at Disney World? For Decatur brothers Kingston and Jackson Suttle, the answer was a mobile shaved ice business. “We were in line at Disney World, kind of bored, to be honest,” said Jackson, 15. “We both wanted to make money.” The brothers considered more traditional...

Style + Beauty

Design is Design

Sycamore Heights artist shifts from jewelry to painting to decor with a designer's eye Article by Sue G. Collins | Photography by Provided   Most days, Decatur artist and designer Shana Bentley grabs a coffee, gets her son Max off to school then goes to work in her studio. On her commute, she plays with pups Bruno and Luca, checks the weather by turning her face to the sun and wanders through her pretty Sycamore Heights backyard to a tidy studio.  I met Shana when she was primarily metal...

Education

Academy for Innovation

Dr. Kristy Beam Is Reimagining What Opportunity Looks Like for Atlanta Students Article by Tiffany Dillard Dr. Kristy Beam has spent her career doing the thing most people only talk about: Closing gaps, opening doors, and building systems that actually work for students who have been overlooked, underestimated, and underserved. Now, with the Academy for Innovation in Medicine, she is changing what is possible for an entire generation of young people who deserve to see their future clearly...

Local Services

The Science of Trust

Inside Canine PhD's approach to happier, better-behaved dogs, changing their lives and the people who love them, one wagging tail at a time. Article by Decatur City Lifestyle Every dog owner has been there: the leash lunge at another pup on the sidewalk, the frantic barking when the doorbell rings, the dog who simply won't settle down no matter how many times you ask. For many families, these moments feel like a mystery with no solution. At Canine PhD, the team has built their entire approach...

Shopping

Small Wonders

Local favorites for little ones; and the grownups who love them. Article by Caroline Ficken Whether you're celebrating a new arrival, searching for the perfect birthday gift, or simply looking for a memorable afternoon with the kids, these locally owned shops make everyday moments feel a little more special. Thoughtfully curated, community-minded, and full of charm, each one offers something that can't be found in a big-box store. PLAY & CREATE Clubhouse Kid & Craft Part toy store, part...