[Do you think Rachel Ray might know how to balance a budget?]

1. The AJC has a report on a poll saying that metro voters would pay higher sales tax for more public transport.  We have a better idea, how about apportioning some of the already existing state transportation budget to methods of transportation other than roads.
2. Creative Loafing has details on the impending city budget cuts and tax hike.  Shirley Franklin - at midnight she turns back into Bill  Campbell.
3. Bloglanta talks Castleberry Hill.
4. How can you tell Forsyth is the new Gwinnett County?  They are getting an AMC Movie Theatre.  Colonial 18 4-eva yiggity yo.

[Spring Training Phenom]

1. The AJC with a great article on Terrapin’s new digs. Looks like they have jumped on the brewery tour bandwagon. Wethinks they will be able to find an audience in the Classic City.
2. Stuff White People Like has made its way around the internet faster than the pictures of “Kristen.” Now comes Stuff Educated Black People Like. On their list - Moving to Atlanta. (h/t Metroblogging)
3. A reader noticed that the Metro Brokers sign on I-85 South has ceased listing the number of homes for sale in Atlanta. Guess it was getting a little depressing.
4. Georgia Sports Blog summarizes all the media entities and personalities rallying to give Coach Felton another year.
5. Braves cuts. Definitely guys you haven’t heard of.

[EAST ATLANTA BEER FEST!]

1. Tony Barnhardt talks about the Ray Ray McElrathbey (that dude who adopted his little brother) situation up at Clemson. Interesting stuff.
2. Built to Spill and the Meat Puppets play tonight at the Variety Playhouse. Creative Loafing has slightly more info.
3. GT Sports Blog has a neat map showing where various ACC recruits hail from. We are currently inquiring about the existence of an SEC version.
4. EAST ATLANTA BEER FEST! EAST ATLANTA BEER FEST! EAST ATLANTA BEER FEST! Looks like prices went up.

[Try the ceviche, brah!]

1. Former Duke HC and Georgia Tech LB Ted Roof has caught on as Defensive Coordinator at Minnesota.  We suggest Roof avoid any kool-aid offered by Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delaney.  ESPN with a less biased account of this transaction between universities.
2. CL’s restaurant blog-type-thing says that a Maxim restaurant is opening at the Glenn Hotel.  I was so excited about our potential hotel bar scene.  A press release says the restaurant will be an “intelligent steakhouse for intelligent people.”  I am confused as to why Maxim wouldn’t target the restaurant towards its readers.
3. Dekalb is actually doing something about water use.  Unlike our-leaky toilet having-selves.  AJC comes with it.
4. Brick Store is getting some love from Forbes.  It was named as one of the top ten beer bars in the nation.  inDECATUR with a Forbes quote containing some backhanded southern stereotypes.
5. One billion for an airport, but nary a cent for public transportation.  We still think the terminal is a net good.  ATLBizChronic feels the flow.
6. Tondee’s has the Kasim Reed for Mayor announcement.  This mayoral campaign will be interesting.  Hold your race cards tight everyone.

[An artist’s rendering of the new GSU dorms.]

1. Good to know that pointless transportation projects are still set to all systems go.  The Mag Lev train between Atlanta and Chattanooga is still on according to one Chattavegas paper.  Sorry Gwinnettians, nothing but traffic and teeth grinding for you.
2. According to the AJC, Billy Knight thrice attempted to fire Mike Woodson.  Way to keep family matters out of the street.
3. Rich Midtown denizens may want to turn away at this point.  AroundMidtown has some pictures of the Piedmont Park parking deck.
4. We have some sad restaurant closing news.  Snellville favorite Little Gardens is closing this Sunday.  For a long time it seemed as though this was the only restaurant in Gwinnett not called Chili’s.
5. Decatur Metro reports that a new bookstore called Blue Elephant is opening in the Decatur area.  But will they treat me as snarkily as the folks at A Capella do?
6. Georgia Sports Blog has the full Knowshon 2007 highlights.  Any guess as to the soundtrack?
7. While H&M struggles to get its first store launched in Atlanta, it announces plans for two more.  The Swedish retail chain plans on adding stores at Mall of Georgia and Town Center. (-7 Hip Points)
8. CL has info on the 2008 Atlanta Film Festival.
9. GSU is adding more student housing.  Atlanta Business Chronicle with the straight dope.  This round includes fraternity houses.  They will regret this decision in 5, 4……

[We want more train stations like Madrid’s in Atlanta.]

1. A bill that would allow MARTA rail service to operate more easily in suburban counties has passed the Senate. Kudos to Senator Curt Thompson of Norcross for working on legislation aimed at real problems. Atlanta Business Chronicle has more info.
2. CL talks about some beer dinners at Brick Store and Twain’s. It looks pricey, yet well worth it.
3. AroundMidtown has some interesting pictures from the W Hotel.
4. If you have a cool $2 million you can pick up this piece of Atlanta’s architectural history. No, it’s not the Buckhead Library.
5. Decatur Metro has found an interesting piece from the Atlantic about the future of our sprawling areas. IF YOU ONLY CLICK ONE LINK IT SHOULD BE THIS ONE.

[College Football Schadenfreude is the best type of schadenfreude.]

1. The AJC asks rich people what they would buy if they won the lottery. How did nobody see the unintentional irony and kill this thing. For strong stomachs only.
2. Nice find here by CL about who will be moving in to the Cabbagetown space formerly occupied by Village Pizza Co. One of the first times we ever visited Cabbagetown a dude got shot. True story, yet we still love Cabbagetown.
3. California pizza restaurant zpizza has opened at Spire. AroundMidtown, a solid intown blog, has more details.
4. An excellent neighborhood and an excellent way to get drunk are coming together. Tomorrow is the Oakhurst Wine Crawl. Decatur Metro drops the knowledge.
5. Spoon hits town on April 14th. You should probably think about being there. Cable & Tweed.
6. This Buckhead Library issue is picking up steam. Hopefully the good guys will win on this one. GT hosted a forum on the issue last night.
7. Lenox Mall is asking to have huge trees cut down because people can’t see their sign. They are also hosting a festival named after a tree. So, yeah.
8. Georgia Sports Blog talks about Felton’s future. We are feeling ambivalent, and that is a helluva lot worse than being mad. UGA needs to win some basketball games. Or sign Derrick Favors.
9. Behind this EDSBS curtain you will see Barack Obama doing the Heisman pose whilst holding an actual Heisman trophy.
10. There was a 7 Wonders of the World theme park, convention center, and resort planned. Huh?!?! Oh, and a indoor water park, just what we need. The AJC comes full circle with an interesting story.

[When you say “Omaha” this is what pops into our heads.]

1. Braves and Birds talks about the Mike Bibby trade. This is the best analysis we have seen on the deal. Of course, you don’t typically get a lot of in depth coverage of the 9th best team in the Eastern Conference.
2. The AJC has a good op-ed on the possible destruction of the Buckhead Library. The razing of a postmodern landmark will make the entire city look like philistines.
3. One of the CL quasi-blogs visited new restaurant The Depot on Memorial Drive. The restaurant, which resides in an old train depot, is run by the same people who own Vickery’s. We are planning on visiting this place very soon.
4. Georgia Sports Blog points out that UGA has made the College World Series in each of the last two even numbered years. We’re sold. Where can we pick up our tickets to Omaha?
5. The Coathangers and the Selmanaires are playing the Earl. C&T with a little bit extra.

[It’s Sonny and Glenn-y(?). Where is Casey? I hope they aren’t talking bad about Jimmy.]

1. Georgia looked damn good against Tennessee this weekend, but a loss is a loss. Georgia Sports Blog, as usual, has the best coverage around.
2. Sonny Perdue is being considered for a VEEP spot. What? At least he has the suffix “y” at the end of his name. Maybe it’s a prerequisite to a Georgian serving in the executive branch.
3. If you are a Georgia-Florida weekend person you need to immerse yourself in this Georgia Trend article regarding Sea Island. I want one, an island that is.
4. Sunday Brunch, late edition from Vinocity Kirkwood, will come later today, hopefully.

[The owner of Aaron’s thinks this is ugly.  We think the business of exploiting poor people through high interest rates is ugly.]

1. Get ready for another year of arguments about how much blanket space a person is allowed to save at the park.  Screen on the Green has been moved to Centennial Park.  AJC with more info.
2. Conservatives are bragging about McCain’s leads in Georgia of 8 and 7 points over Obama and Clinton, respectively.  It doesn’t seem all that awesome when you consider that Bush won by 17% just four years ago.   Georgia Politics Unfiltered has slightly more details.
3. El Bar, the not-so-secret yet secret bar located underneath El Azteca is closing its doors on February 29th.  This would be a brilliant ploy to make the bar less popular (and thus, more secrety).  CL with some coverage.
4. Post Northwest merger Delta will remain in Atlanta according to Peach Pundit.  Sorry Minnesota, you will have to console yourself with your superiority in both curling and speed skating.
5. Kudos to Jay Bookman for explaining why the new transportation is bad for Metro Atlanta.  But we need that bill for the Dooling (population: 168) Bypass.
6. Georgia Sports Blog talks about the measures UGA Athletics has taken to minimize the number of Tennessee fans inside Stegeman for tomorrow’s game.  Our suggestion is holding the National Varmint Hunting Convention on the day of the game.
7. The Buckhead library may be razed.  No jokes here - THIS WOULD BE A TRAGEDY.  AJC with more.