One night in Decatur

Christine Mahin believes Decatur’s greatest charm is its people

By Christine Mahin (with Mike Killeen)

Photography by Rae Stern

This past March, I was passing through downtown Decatur Square on an unseasonably warm evening. It was hard not to be enchanted by the typical downtown scene: wonderful smells, laughter, and music rising from the various restaurants and pubs. As I walked a little slower to enjoy it, I caught sight of a bright full moon. I paused and leaned against one of the light posts to take it all in.

“That’s Mercury,” a voice from behind me said.

I turned, surprised to find a man and woman sitting at a table outside the Brick Store Pub table finishing a meal and a couple of cocktails. I didn’t recognize them, which I’ve learned to be surprised by since moving to Decatur.

After 10 years of living in New York where anonymity rules, I’ve come to cherish walking through the Square—sharing a hug with Diane Capriola at Little Shop of Stories; waving to Dave Blanchard, who is always watering his flowers early in the morning outside the Brick Store; fist-bumping Gareth O’Sullivan as he hurries to a Decatur FC meeting; or exchanging smiles with the ever-stylish Lisa Bobb of Squash Blossom. It’s my absolute favorite thing about the town.

“Oh!” I thought I had been looking at the moon. The gentleman, who looked to be in his 70s, pointed to the sky—down and to the right of the largest heavenly body, only a little above the treeline.

“You can see it this time of year,” he said with a smile. “Are you local?”

“Yes,” I feigned confidence. Even after living here almost a decade, I have trouble shaking the idea that I’m an uncouth Yankee interloper.

“Have you always lived here?” his wife asked gently.

“Actually, no. I moved here about nine years ago from New York.” Is it really nine years? I found myself crouching down to be closer to them. “How about you?”

“Oh, no,” the wife smiled, a little shyly. “We’re exploring it. We’re thinking of moving here.” She whispered conspiratorially, like she was sharing a juicy secret.

“Really,” I said. “Do you have family here?”

“No, no,” the husband assured. “Just like the looks of it.”

I was suddenly gripped with the overwhelming urge—no, the need—to convince this darling couple to move here and live out their years in the happy, warm, musical little paradise.

“Well, you must!” Now I’m Decatur’s number one sales person. “It couldn’t be lovelier. The food is the best in Atlanta—really. There’s live music everywhere, all the time. Have you heard of Eddie’s Attic? And the people. I’m sure they’re the nicest in the world.”

The couple sat back, impressed (or perhaps unnerved) by my fervor. They nodded their approval, we said our departing pleasantries and I strolled home, envying their adventure.

Early the next morning, as I was driving down Ponce, I saw the couple sitting at a little table outside Dancing Goats. They were sipping coffee and looking at something together. I imagined it was a real estate magazine and that they were plotting their move.

Maybe I’ll run into them on my next walk through the Square. I hope so.

Christine Mahin is the Vice President of Lenz, a marketing agency located in Decatur. She also serves as Co-Board Chair and Festival Director of Amplify Decatur, which she’s overseen since 2017. Previously, she worked in New York in the film and television industry as a field producer and post-production supervisor.