1. Read all about it: The annual Decatur Book Festival returns tomorrow through Sunday with hundreds of authors and thousands of literature lovers descending on the city for readings, workshops and more. This year’s keynote speaker is Jonathan Franzen, who will launch his new novel, Freedom, at the festival. Franzen, who won the National Book Award for The Corrections and spurned Oprah’s offer to be part of her book club, will speak at 8p.m. tomorrow night at Agnes Scott’s Presser Hall.

2. Is that a lightsaber in your pocket… Sci-fi and fantasy lovers of all ages will be freaking and geeking all weekend as the 24th annual Dragon*Con touches down in Atlanta with hundreds of authors, film/tv stars and comic book illustrators. You can meet Gil Gerard (Buck Rogers), Brent Spiner (Data from Star Trek), Brandon Routh (Superman), Edward James Olmos (Battlestar Galactica), Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca from Star Wars) and Barbara Eden (Jeannie from I Dream of Jeannie). And remember, what happens at Dragon*Con, stays at Dragon*Con.

3. Late night improv: Sometimes the movie trailers are the best part of the show, so Dad’s Garage in Inman Park is playing off that conceit for its Sneak Preview improve show on Friday night at 10:30 p.m. Three trailers will be shown for movies yet to be released and the audience will pick the worst and then the Garage troupe will act out the rest of the movie. This ain’t no Disney sing-a-long, so find a babysitter.

4. Let’s twist again… The Alliance Theatre is getting ready to send another big show to Broadway with the world premiere of Twist, a musical set in New Orleans during the Roaring ’20s about an orphan who finds unexpected family on Bourbon Street. The show opened Wednesday and continues through Oct. 3. Debbie Allen directed and choreographed the show, so you know these actors are paying in sweat.

5. Blues and BBQ: Atlanta’s indie radio station WRFG 89.3FM is holding its 25th annual Labor Day Blues BBQ at Park Tavern on Monday from 12:30 to 8:30 p.m. Motor City Josh and Big 3 headline the event with ‘que and stew provided by Fat Matt’s Rib Shack.

This collaborative effort, spearheaded by AtlantaPlanIt.com, a service of Public Broadcasting Atlanta, will focus on educating metro Atlantans about the diverse opportunities available for enjoying arts in the region. Individual arts organizations will contribute funds that will pay for the creative for the campaign as well as advertising purchases online, on air, in select TV markets and in print.

Weak arts funding and a perceived lack of coverage in the local media has spurred the new collaboration, according to AtlantaPlanIt officials. By recognizing those organizations who participate, the campaign will leverage existing individual marketing efforts without diluting each organization’s unique message. Atlanta PlanIt is looking for participation from a sizable representation of the more than 400 arts groups in the region by the anticipated campaign launch in January 2011.

By Manning Harris

The characters in Gina Gionfriddo’s brilliant dark comedy of non-manners “Becky Shaw,” now playing at Actor’s Express through September 25, are by turns detestable, contradictory, maddening, hilarious, and irresistible.  60 years ago Kinsey wrote that “it is a fundamental of taxonomy that nature rarely deals with discrete categories.”  Ms. Gionfriddo understands that perfectly, and any attempt to categorize her characters is doomed to failure.  Someone has said they are incredibly delightful and extremely slippery; Director Freddie Ashley skillfully guides his actors in this fun house of questionable morals.

Max (Andrew Benator), a financial manager, is the adopted brother and friend/advisor of Suzanna (Jill Hames); they have a relationship of unusual closeness.  Suzanna sets up a date between Max and Becky Shaw (Veronika Duerr) that turns from a “Bad Romance” to the date from hell, ending in a police station and a suicide attempt.

Meanwhile, Andrew (Tony Larkin), is Suzanna’s nurturing, would-be writer husband; while Susan (Kathi Welch) is Suzanna’s acid-tongued mother, afflicted with multiple sclerosis and a penchant for brutal honesty that spares no one, including herself:  “You will never hear me buy into any of this new age nonsense about my illness being a gift.”  She further tells Suzanna, who’s got doubts about her husband, that “absolute honesty in a relationship is a prescription for misery.”  There is acerbic commentary by everybody about everybody.  Max, extremely well played by Andrew Benator, takes top honors in this field.  You want to hate him but can’t, because he’s hugely entertaining.

Veronika Duerr, who plays Becky, possesses one of the theatre’s rarest gifts: a genuine comedy sense.  Her entrance and opening minutes onstage are mesmerizing:  You watch her breathlessly to see what she’ll say or do next.  Becky is awkward, nervous, vulnerable and completely alive.  It’s sort of like Streisand’s opening minutes in “Funny Girl” (on the Broadway stage, thank you; yes, I’m that old); it’s one of the theatre’s gifts that great moments stay with you forever.   But then we discover that Becky has a few thorny tricks up her sleeve as well.  (Watch that categorizing; it doesn’t work here!)

It’s difficult to write about “Becky Shaw” because it illustrates so well what Tennessee Williams said a real play shows:  “that cloudy, flickering, evanescent—fiercely charged—interplay of live human beings in the thundercloud of a common crisis.”  You have to see it.  Incidentally, the show has a real New York flavor about it; I think Woody Allen would like it very much.

It’s a strong cast, with the aforementioned Mr. Benator and Ms. Duerr outstanding.

Kat Conley’s set is very serviceable, either two-star or three-star, depending on your point of view (a little inside joke here—again, see this play).  I was a bit distracted by the slow fade-outs to scenes because you can see the guys changing the set while the actors have barely finished their lines and are still visible.  It detracts from the moment just created—I’m sure this can easily be fixed.

“Becky Shaw” premiered at the Humana Festival in Louisville, where Charles Isherwood of the New York Times pronounced it “suspenseful, witty and infused with an unsettling sense of the potential for psychic disaster inherent in almost any close relationship.”  I agree.

Actor’s Express has started the 2010-2011 Atlanta theatre season for us with this cracking good play. It runs through September 25.

For more information, visit www. actors-express.com. Contact Manning Harris at fmanningh@gmail.com.

WINNER

Official name: Sparky

Breed: Schnauzer (Terrier mix)

Age: 4 years

Owners: Chip Allen/Chris Kinghan

Nicknames: The Wonder Dog, The Miracle Dog

Sleeping arrangements: I have my own big, giant bed but would much rather sleep with my owner so I crawl up there in the mornings.

Favorite scratching place: Behind the ears….I lay back and my eyes roll back. If they stop, I have learned to bark to say, “You’re not finished!”

How you got your owners: It’s really a long, horrible story. Even when I tell it now I can’t believe I went through it but here are the scars to prove it. There’s no gentle way to get into this story so here it goes. I was tied and dragged behind a truck by an awful man. He accelerated until I lost my footing and hit the pavement knocking out a tooth. He then continued to drag me across a bridge. There was a trail of blood from where my skin was rubbed off and the pads and nails of my feet were gone as well. Many cars swerved and honked to where he finally stopped and I wrenched my head free, crawled to the side of the road and collapsed. I was taken to Paces Ferry Veterinary Clinic and they were going to put me to sleep but Dr. Merrit decided to not give up on me. They nursed me back to health with donations from so many nice people and eventually, I was well enough to go to the good humans over at Atlanta Pet Rescue. It took months and months of healing but I finally got back on my feet, literally, and was adopted by a fantastic human named, Chip. I also have a great brother named Rocky and a sort of second dad named Chris. It all seems like such a long, long time ago and, ironically, I like to ride in trucks but wedged in between the door and the front seat. I am so grateful for my life now and for everyone who did not give up on me. It’s a miracle I made it through that experience and it just goes to show you the power of love.

Advice for dealing with owners: Give humans unconditional love but use the perception you have to keep safe—if person isn’t nice, run.

SECOND PLACE

Official name: Minnie Me

Breed: Min Pin

Age: 2ish

Owners: Jim Powell & Richard Funderburke

Nicknames: Poop, Min

Sleeping arrangements: Full run of bed (I own the house, really)

Favorite scratching place: Chest and belly—my head tilts and I hold my paws up

How you got your owners: Well, it’s hard for me to talk about that part of my life but I guess it turned out all right now. I was born into a puppy mill in North Georgia. The living conditions were awful…a lot of my friends and family didn’t make it out. One day there was a rescue mission and I was taken to the Atlanta Humane Society. I was there for about 3 weeks and for kicks, I checked my views on the website. I couldn’t believe it. Somebody had been watching me for a few weeks. When they finally came to meet me, I wasn’t going to just roll over and beg but I did want out. They brought a dog they already owned and she gave me the nod that they were good humans. I was still a bit leery but in a moment of weakness, I licked the human’s hand. We locked eyes and I thought I felt something inside me thaw out…release…I don’t know.

I hardly think about all that now. I’ve got a great life. I’ve got a backyard full of squirrels, a house overflowing with toys and a TV I can watch whenever I want. When my Dad is home, I sit on the back of his chair and look at the neighbors. When I want a treat, I hypnotize him with my big brown eyes and that always gets me cheese and bologna. Yeah, I’ve got it pretty good now.

Advice for dealing with owners: Always act like you like your owner whether you do or not.

THIRD PLACE-TIE

Official name: Sophie Sugarman Lowden (Sophie)

Breed: Terrier-ish

Age: 11ish

Owners: Scott and Wendy Lowden

Nicknames: Shmopher, Furball, Little Dove

Sleeping arrangements: Smack in middle of the bed, as many pillows as possible, flat on my back, legs spread eagle

Favorite scratching place: Belly, of course

How you got your owners: (from Sophie—in a French accent) I was on the run, I can’t really say from what, but I was running as fast as I could down DeKalb Ave. Right when I thought it was over for me, a human swooped me up and saved me from the streets. That human already had three dogs who were not happy about making it four so I was brought into something called an “office” where humans do “work”. One of the people in charge of this office said they would put me up for the night. It was a very hip photography studio – kinda of a work/live space. Problem is, there were 3 cats already there – Sweetie Pie, Ruby, Mr. Daisy – and when you’re my size, you gotta show no fear around the cat crowd. I had to play this cool so I walked in and just laid right down. In an instant, I had won with the cats. As for the humans, they are much easier to win over. One night is all I needed. I was cute. I was small. I needed help. By the next morning, I knew it was settled. Although the humans were still telling themselves they had to “try it out” for another night, I started making myself right at home…because that’s where I was. Finally.

Advice for dealing with owners: You get back what you give. Give love, get love, be a friend, get a friend. (except with the cats – just ignore them)

Official name: Molly

Breed: Cairn Terrier/Fox Terrier

Age: 3 years

Owners: Nicci Kirby & Chad Mercer

Nicknames: Molly-bear, MB, Muppet

Sleeping arrangements: Anywhere I want to sleep, usually with my head between both my owner’s pillows.

Favorite scratching place: Belly – my head tilts if it’s around ears, IF you find perfect spot, my leg will get going.

How you got your owners: You would not look at me and think I could be involved with dog fighting but that is how my story starts. I was a bait dog used to get the fighter dogs revved up before a real match. There was a raid on my ring’s camp and a lot of us were rescued and nursed back to health. I landed with a rescue crew that traveled with horse shows I hopes that the animal lovers there would see us and take us in. A very, very sweet human walked by our crate and I turned on the charm. She already had a 10-year old dog at home and someone called, “Chad” who didn’t seem to want me. Well, I knew what I had to do when I met them. With the dog, Emma, I was shy and let her know I would fit right in with no trouble. Now, mind you, I’m no push over with where I’ve been and all but I wanted her to know I can be really nice. With Chad, he had rules. No dogs on furniture, no licking, no jumping and all that. So, when I met him, I jumped right up on the back of his chair, licked his face and it was all over from there. I know it’s breaking the dog code to talk about this but I used the old trick of hypnotizing him with my eyes. It usually works with the hard to crack ones. I actually really liked him too and consider him my dad even though, well, we’re cross-species. I’m part of the family now and I do hate it when my parents go away. I stay in the window so I can see them right when they drive up. I also do that so I can tell Emma to hurry up and turn the TV off – we watch it when they’re not home.

Advice for dealing with owners: Don’t take no for an answer. Never, ever give up. One bone is never enough. Perfect your “look” to get what you want.

By Collin Kelley

Thirty of the PGA’s top golfers will return to East Lake Golf Club Sept. 22-26 for THE TOUR Championship, with the winner walking away with the FedExCup and a $10 million purse. But the East Lake community will reap even greater benefits.

“Before 1992, East Lake was one of the most difficult urban life stories to tell,” said Rob Johnston, general chairman of the tournament, recalling the crime, gang activity and despair of the neighborhood that the police often referred to as “Little Vietnam.”

Developer and philanthropist Tom Cousins had the vision to rescue the neighborhood and return the East Lake Golf Club, once the home course of legendary Bobby Jones, to prominence.

The East Lake Foundation was created to jumpstart the revitalization, followed by the opening of the nationally acclaimed Drew Charter School and the Charlie Yates Golf Course. THE TOUR came to the East Lake Golf Club in 1998 and its now the tournament’s permanent venue.

THE TOUR’s net-proceeds for the East Lake Foundation add up to a $1 million-plus each year, and that money is put back into the Drew Charter School and programs like CREW Teens and The First Tee Club. “The money is critical to the infrastructure and programs to help children get a foothold in life,” Johnston said.

With the Golf Channel and NBC televising all four days of THE TOUR, Johnston said it was an “awesome showcase to highlight the course, the Foundation and the kids.”

The majority of graduates from Drew Charter School go on to high school and college with high test scores, Johnston said.

One of those students is 17-year-old Tavarez Tate (who was one of Atlanta INtown’s 20 Under 20 honorees in January), who graduated from Drew Charter and now attends Carver Early College. He’s still active with CREW Teens, which provides academic support for teens in the East Lake community, and has gone on to lead nonprofit organizations and volunteering around the community.

“THE TOUR made a great impact on my life,” Tavarez said, who was a member of The First Tee Club, which provides leadership and education to promote character development through the game of golf.

Tavarez, who hopes to study business administration either at Morehouse or maybe UCLA, still volunteers with The First Tee and has become a big fan of golf as well. “None of this would have been possible without Drew Charter School and the programs at East Lake. It changed my perception of what’s important in life and what I need to accomplish.”

Quinntez Gurndy, the director of Crew Teens, said the program has become popular in the community without any kind of recruiting necessary. “The after school center operates four days a week and we get 30 to 35 each day,” Gurndy said. “There’s a communal aspect and there are opportunities to learn and connect.”

Gurndy said one of the most challenging aspects of helping the kids is motivation. “They have to understand delayed gratification,” Gurndy said. “You don’t see the end result and pay off for the the work until later on in life.”

Johnston said there neighborhoods like East Lake prior to its rescue still remain across the country, but those issues could be remedied with programs like the ones at East Lake. “We hit a homerun in a small microcosm,” he said, “but I think others will see what’s possible and it will spread across the country.”

The TOUR also provides seed money that the East Lake Foundation wants to give to other communities – and philanthropic-minded individuals like Tom Cousins – to help them begin their own transformation.

Johnston said more immediately that THE TOUR is still looking for support from the Atlanta business community by purchasing blocks of tickets and by local nonprofits getting involved in the Tickets Fore Charity program, where organizations promote the sale of tournament tickets, with 100 percent of the net proceeds remaining with the charity.

For more information, visit www.tourchampionship.pgatour.com

The 2010-11 arts season in Atlanta is shaping up to be another scorcher, with world premieres, old favorites, big stars and the transformation of a venerable dance company as it celebrates its 30th anniversary.

The Center for Puppetry Arts
1404 Spring St.
(404) 873-3391 or www.Puppet.org
Both kids and adults can enjoy the magic marionettes in the Brothers Grimm’s Rumpelstiltskin, which continues through Sept. 12. Coming later in the season: Wake up Your Weird with Lolly and Leslie, Sept. 16-26; Charlotte’s Web, Sept. 30 – Oct. 31; and Nightingale, Nov. 2-14.

Actor’s Express
887 W. Marietta St. Suite J-107
(404) 607-7469 or www.Actors-Express.com
Becky Shaw, which runs through Sept. 25, marks one of the most anticipated shows for the upcoming season. Newlywed Suzanna attempts to fix her best friend Max with her husband’s beautiful, yet off-kilter, co-worker Becky Shaw that ignites into a series of dysfunctional comedy. Hailed by the New York Times as “ferociously funny,” this hit from the 2008-2009 New York theatre season was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Coming later in the season: Albatross, Oct.21 – Nov.20

Alliance Theatre
1280 Peachtree St.
(404) 733-5000 or www.AllianceTheatre.org
Twist: An American Musical, which opens Sept. 1, is set in New Orleans during the 20s and follows the adventures of an orphan, who finds family in unexpected places along Bourbon Street. Twist marks the Alliance Theatre return of director and choreographer Debbie Allen (Fame), straight from her Broadway and Olivier Award-winning West End productions of Cat On A Hot Tin Roof.  Coming later in the season: Nacirema, Oct. 20 – Nov. 14.

Atlanta Ballet
Cobb Energy Centre and Fox Theatre
(404)873-5811 or www.AtlantaBallet.com
Moulin Rouge: The Ballet comes to life Oct. 22 – 31 at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. Choreographed by Jorden Morris, this story of a bohemian world against the backdrop of blossoming love and tragedy is an enduring classic. Coming later in the season: Nutcracker, Nov. 27 – Dec. 26.

Theatrical Outfit
Balzer Theatre, 84 Luckie St.
(404) 577-5257 or www.theatricaloutfit.org
John Kennedy Toole’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, A Confederacy of Dunces, comes to life in this world premiere penned by the theater’s artistic director Tom Key. Ignatius J. Reilly’s madcap adventures through New Orleans have become stuff of modern legend. Closes Sept. 5, so hurry! Coming later in the season: The Young Man From Atlanta, Jan. 26 – Feb. 20; Caroline, or Change, March 16 – April 10.

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
1280 Peachtree St.
(404) 733-4900 or www.AtlantaSymphony.org
Conductor Robert Spano kicks off the season with Mozart’s Jeunehomme Concerto No. 9 and Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique on Sept. 23, Sept. 25 and Sept. 28. Pianist André Watts is the special guest for the Mozart performance. Coming later in the season: Beethoven & Mahler on Sept. 30 – Oct. 2.

The High Museum of Art
1280 Peachtree St.
(404) 733-4444 or www.High.org
Dalí: The Late Work continues through Jan. 9 with more than 100 works including 40 paintings. Coming later in the season: Titian and the Golden Age of Venetian Painting, Oct. 17 – Jan. 2.

Atlanta Opera
Cobb Energey Centre, 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway
(404) 881-8885 or www.AtlantaOpera.org
Atlanta Opera ignites it 2010-2011 season with La Boheme, the story of six artists brimming with idealism and clashing with reality, which will premier Oct. 2 – 10.

Ferst Center
349 Ferst Drive
(404) 894-2787 or www.FerstCenter.gatech.edu
Debbie Reynolds opens the season with an evening of music and comedy from Singin’ in the Rain to her Academy Award-nominated performance in The Unsinkable Molly Brown on Sept. 11. Coming later in the season: Break of Reality, Sept. 17; Homay & Mastan Ensemble, Sept. 18; David Sanborn Trio featuring Joey DeFrancesco, Oct. 1; Rockapella, Oct. 3; Diavolo Oct. 15; Angela Hewitt, Oct. 21; Paula Poundstone, Oct. 22; Michael Bolton, Oct. 28; An Evening with Branford Marsalis, Nov. 5; and Lily Cai Dance Ensemble, Nov. 12.

CORE
Balzer Theatre and CORE Studio
(404) 373-4154 or www.severaldancerscore.org
The contemporary dance company formerly known as Several Dancers Core kick’s off its 3oth anniversary season with a simpler name and a performance of Corazón Abriendo (Heart Opening) on Nov. 18- 21 at Balzer Theater. The popular “Lunchtime in the Studio” will offer free studio performances during its 11th season, with lunch provided by local Decatur restaurant sponsors.  “Lunchtime in the Studio” takes place Thursdays from noon to 1 p.m. on Sept. 30 and Nov. 11. For more events and information, check the website.

Pryor Fine Art will celebrate its new name and 2oth anniversary on Bennett Street on Friday, Sept. 17 from 6 to 9 p.m. The event will double as a benefit for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, with a portion of the proceeds from pre-sales and the first week’s sales donated to Children’s. Currently, the gallery represents more than 40 artists from Atlanta as well as throughout the United States. Pryor Fine Art is located at 22-F Bennett St. in Buckhead. The gallery is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit www.pryorfineart.com.

The Georgia Trust 2010 Atlanta Fall Ramble is Sept. 10 to 12 with the theme, Old Charm Meets New South. Explore Atlanta’s historic landmarks and homes and learn about the craftsmanship behind their restorations. There will be special tours of the Fox Theatre, Oakland Cemetery, Ansley Park, Inman Park, and other intown neighborhoods. Visit www.georgiatrust.org for more information.

The 4th annual Walk of HEROes 5K is Saturday, Sept. 11. The 5K Run/Walk, To Trot and Community Hero Fun Day helps those with developmental disabilities, substance addictions and mental health illnesses served by the DeKalb Community Service Board. Located at the Richardson Health Center , 445 Winn Way in Decatur,  registration is from 7:45 a.m. to 8:45 a.m.; 5K at 9 a.m. and Tot Trot at 10 a.m. Registration fees are $15 for 5K and $5 for Tot Trot. www.dekcsb.org

Join thousands of Atlantans for the 20th annual AIDS Walk Atlanta & 5K Run on Sunday, Oct. 17. This year’swWalk returns to Piedmont Park with check-in starting at noon.  The walk starts at 2 p.m., and the 5K run starts at 1:45 p.m. Weather permitting, the AIDS Memorial Quilt will be on display, along with the AIDS Walk Atlanta commemorative quilt. The largest and most visible fundraising event for AIDS in the Southeast, the event makes it possible for AID Atlanta and nine other AIDS service organizations to continue the work to stop the spread of HIV and optimize the lives of those living with HIV/AIDS. For more information or to register, visit www.aidswalkatlanta.com or call (404) 876-9255.

Oakland Cemetery will host the annual Sunday in the Park from noon  to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 3. Sunday in the Park is a Victorian street festival offering fun and entertainment for all ages. Guests can enjoy a memorable afternoon of food from Six Feet Under, The Varsity, Tin Lizzy’s, Doc Chey’s and more. Don’t miss Doug Lothes and his farewell performance of Gone With the Wind in Twenty Minutes. There will be a variety of live musical entertainment, including The Serenaders, The Roy Glenn Key Band, Vauxhall Garden Variety Players and the Bow Weevils, an artist’s market, living history demonstrations, storytellers and Irish dancers. Admission is a suggested donation of $5. Admission for children 3 and under is free. www.oaklandcemetery.com.

The Robert C. Williams Paper Museum on the campus of Georgia Tech will celebrate the work of famed Twinrocker paper mill from Sept. 23 to Dec. 17.  with the exhibition Twinrocker:  Forty Years of Hand Papermaking. Founded in Brookston, Indiana, the company’s fine paper has been used to produce some of the most noted portfolios and limited edition books of the past four decades. Among the artists represented in the exhibit are Robert Rauschenberg, Sally Mann, Louise Bourgeois, Jasper Johns, Jim Dine, Chuck Close, Willem de Kooning and Larry Rivers. The museum is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Admission is free, but a suggested donation of $3 for adults and $2 for children is appreciated. The museum is located at 500 10th Street in Atlanta.  For more information, call (404) 894-7840 or visit www.ipst.gatech.edu/amp.

The YWCA and Belk are presenting this year’s Open Your Purse event to raise funds and awareness for the YWCA’s Women in Transition and Supportive Housing program. The event showcases hundreds of handbags (including celebrity signed and designer bags), which attendees can purchase during a live and silent auction on Wednesday, Sept. 15, at 6 p.m. at the InterContinental Hotel in Buckhead, 3315 Peachtree. For more information visit www.ywcaatlanta.org.

St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Church is hosting its 36th annual Middle East Festival Sept. 17 -19 with music, dancing, crafts and food. There will be an extensive menu of food – from hummus and kibbee to tabouleh and kababs – and a cultural fashion show. The newly expanded church will also be open for tours. Hours for the festival are 5 to 9 p.m. on Friday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m . on Saturday, and noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday. St. Elias is at 2045 Ponce de Leon Ave. www.steliasofatlanta.org.

Concerts on the Square
September brings the return of the Decatur Business Association’s Concerts on the Square and Blue Sky Concerts. Concerts on the Square, sponsored by Wachovia, are presented every Saturday night in September beginning at 7 p.m. and feature an eclectic mix of music. Blue Sky Concerts are held every Wednesday in September from noon until 1 p.m. at the bandstand on the square and sponsored by SunTrust. Bring a picnic or try one of the many restaurants in Decatur before or after the shows. The Blue Sky line-up includes The Dammages (Sept. 1); The Jim Pearce Band (Sept. 8); Angela Easterling (Sept. 15); Wendy Jans (Sept. 22); and The Conundrums (Sept. 30). The Concerts on the Square feature Zydeco T (6:30 p.m. in conjunction with the Decatur Book Festival); Gwen Hughes & The Retro Jazz Kats (Sept. 11); Stratogeezer (Sept. 18); and JazzChronic (Sept. 25). www.decaturdba.com.

By Jesse Morado

Replacing your old single pane, double hung windows can really contribute to substantial energy savings, noise reduction, and cut down harmful UV rays that fade interior finishes.

The blazing heat this summer has really impressed upon us, after opening our electrical bills, how important it is to cut energy usage. If you choose to remove and replace all of your windows, additional modifications may be needed to exterior and interior surfaces to accommodate the new windows. Depending on the manufacturer’s unit sizing, openings may need to be enlarged or reduced. These changes or adjustments to brick, siding, interior trim and drywall affect installation costs and in some cases require additional contractors to complete your project.

The benefit to replacing the entire window unit is you get a more energy efficient system, have the ability to insulate around the openings, and best of all qualify for the energy tax credits. There are a variety of products and manufacturers depending on your homes style, your taste and budget.

A cost effective approach (usually around 30 percent less) I like with double hung windows is to simply replace the sash units. It may sound a bit invasive but today’s sash kits are remarkably easy to install and have a minimal effect, if any, on existing exterior and interior materials since your existing window frames remain in place. Of course it is very important that your existing frames are in good condition and not suffering from a lot of rot or sitting racked or out of square in the openings. If this is your situation, it is best to replace the entire window.

Sash kits are an excellent way to get the benefit of new windows without all the fuss and mess. They can be custom sized and are available in a wide range of styles and materials including wood, aluminum clad, vinyl and in some cases a combination of materials. They come with double pane insulated Low-E glass, UV protection, and muntin (grilles) patterns that can be manufactured to fit almost any design. A real plus with sash kits is the tilt out sash capability you achieve for ease of cleaning as well as maintaining the architectural style of your older home. Sash replacement kits provide attractive solutions to replacing those old drafty units.

But the greatest feature is the ease of installation. With proper sizing the units can be ordered so that installation is quick and easy. Old sashes are removed from the frame while the window casings, trim and sills remain intact. This saves you money, time, and is much less invasive. New sash kits are comprised of the sashes themselves, which come with insulated glass, new jamb liners and hardware. Once the old sashes are removed, take the time to insulate or caulk any openings in your existing window frames.  If you have the old rope and pulley system, the cavities which house the weights can be insulated to increase energy efficiency.  Once you have had sealing work performed the new jamb liners are fastened into place the sashes are installed and hardware put on. Some minor caulking finishes off the job. Note that wood units will need to be painted or stained on the interior and exterior.

In most cases an entire unit can be re-worked in about an hour, less painting, by a professional installer or around two to three hours if you choose to do it on your own depending on skill set. There are insert systems (entire window unit which fits within your existing frame), which also provide easy installation and energy efficiency.  Inserts are typical with many vinyl window products, which are custom made to fit within your existing openings. You may loose some glass area with these insert systems but the benefits you achieve in maintenance and energy efficiency are still great.  The only con to double hung sash replacement kits is they don’t qualify for the tax credits.

Nonetheless, the money you will save each month on utility bills, the ease of installation and cost savings over installing entire units may be worth it.

Happy Remodeling!

Jesse Morado is CEO of Renovation Coach, Inc. a consulting firm providing new construction and remodeling guidance to homeowners and coaching on business best practices and risk management for contractors.  He is a Certified Remodeler and Certified Aging in Place Specialist and currently serves as NARI Nationals Education Committee Vice Chair. Contact him at (404) 729-4969 or at www.renovationcoach.com.