Don't you get tired of hearing that?
Of course, to the ethanolic crowd, there are not a bunch of good, themed taverns where you can go to get loaded and puke in the parking lot.
However, there are a lot of fun things to do.
What does LR like to do in Decatur? From my previous post, you can probably guess I like to fish. (BTW, *is* it safe to eat fish from Lake Decatur? Family has said no, but I turned out okay, right?) If I didn't lose so many golf balls in the water hazards, I would probably golf more. Is RedTail Run any good? Ye Olde Putt-Putt is also an occasional pleasure. Back when I was young, I enjoyed softball/baseball, but my old bones/joints/stiff muscles/fat gut won't do too much of that anymore. I used to play tennis, shoot hoop, and a whole lot of other stuff when I was younger, too. I also used to go to the zoo when I was young. If you have kids, the zoo/children's museum at Scoville is mandatory. (BTW, the library is also a great place to take your kids, too...)
After work, I also enjoy some of Decatur's fine dining opportunities. If you haven't been to Porter's On Merchant, you are missing out on one of the best steak places around. The ambiance is wonderful, the service is great, and the food is immaculate (no apologies to Madonna.) Since "The Beachhouse" has been renamed from Marsha's (and the menu/chef has changed) this place is also wonderful. Robbie's for lunch can't be beat (get the salmon....mmmmm get the salmon) and Jimmy Ryan's is a great place for a business lunch/dinner with a large private meeting room if desired. I could go into detail with all the chain restaurants around town, but most of you already know what we have available here in town.
Okay, I've rambled long enough...any thoughts on what you like to do in Decatur?
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16 comments:
Grab a great fast-food meal at Paul's by the lake, play Putt-putt right across the road, and maybe take a few swings at Dunn's Dugout.
Cruising Eldo is okay, but since the cops banned the loud tunes, it isn't the same.
I agree with you about the Salmon for lunch. It is wonderful. And also good for you, I might add.
Is Porter's open for lunch? I've always wondered.
Porter's is NOT open for lunch...
Sorry about the long delay. I've asked them about being open for lunch, and they said "they're working on it." I think once the demand gets high enough and the money is there, they'll do it.
I had Robbie's salmon for lunch a few days back...oh that is good.
Porters is so good. Their steak is awesome... and i wouldn't eat anything that came near Decatur lake.. let alone from it
Sorry,
I work and I have children...fancy restraunts are out. We like to take the kids to pla-mor bowling alley! It is fun and great for the kids. They can play and get loud and eat the food they like with out worry of being rude.
You need the new beta blogger so I can post--betas cannot post to nonbetas unless we use anon mode.
Beta is now functional, but I don't see how much "better it is."
I guess we'll have to see.
When I pop into town I eat at my brother Jays in Mt. Zion ...is that close enough to Decatur? The only reason I would eat out in Decatur is for the company. I cant think of any place to serve me better than family or cook better food. Some how even hot dogs taste great when you are laughing and having a good time with people you love.
Even Chips and popcorn at my Uncle Randys is better than Steak in town...sorry but it is the truth.
lost damery:
I would agree. The best meal is one eaten with family/friends. It's not just the food, but the atmosphere, the sharing, the bonding.
I guess that's why Mom's chili is always better than any other I've had.
LR,
I had no idea food would taste best if it was immaculate.
Immaculate food?
Are you a germophobe like Howard Hughes was?
What is up with that professional degree and your use of the word 'immaculate' in this context?
D-u-m-m, I'd say.
nvr---"If you haven't been to Porter's On Merchant, you are missing out on one of the best steak places around. The ambiance is wonderful, the service is great, and the food is immaculate (no apologies to Madonna.)"---
I tried Porter's last night and let me tell anyone and everyone who happens to read this, it is NOT one of the best steak places around. We had reservation for 10 people at 7:00, which they managed to screw up. The host, or whatever he is, obviously did not want to accomodate our party. He had our reservation for 7 at 6:00. We actually had 9 in our party and we were there around 6:30. He acted as if it was OUR fault and that it was OUR problem and that he didn't know what he was going to do. Well, he finally pulled himself together and got us seated.
Without going into great detail, the service was SLOW. Our waitress was very sweet and did her best. It was obvious that something was wrong because people were waiting for their drinks/salads/meals. Not just our party of 9. It took a good 15-20 minutes to get one shrimp cocktail appetizer, and that was only after we had to ask where it was.
The salad was small and warm. The steaks were acceptable, but certainly not worth the prices that Porter's charges. Oh, and they gave me 5 spears of asparagus with my steak.
I think Porter's is one of those pseudo-gourmet, typey, wanna-be restaurants that emphasizes the beauty of the food, and I think they will end up along the same lines as other "elegant, upscale" restaurant/steakhouses, like Blu Phoenix and J.R.'s.....out of business.
Listen people, save your time and money. We were at Porter's from 6:30 until 9:30; we were served our meal at 8:30 (completely unacceptable.) If you want a real steakhouse, go to Texas Roadhouse in Forsyth. I have never been to a restaurant that consistently puts out good food like Texas Roadhouse. I have never had a problem or bad meal there. Yeah, it gets loud, but not unbearably. Some people think it is FUN. And Stoney's Steakhouse in Dalton City has very good food, but they do better on weekends as compared through the middle of the week.
Your blog is retarded and it seems everyone commenting on it is as well.
Try bloggin about things that matter.
Do something to change the minds and lives of many of Decatur's citizens, those who believe they are entitled to everything but don't have to have any responsibilities. Help us become democratic again and boot the Socialists out of the city's leadership positions. Get Ameren's Leigh Morris' address out there so people can go protest in front of his house. For god's sake DO SOMETHING. This page is like reading an issue of O magazine.
PLEASE NOTE: I'm ignoring that last post from March, 2007 because if you want to whine (I prefer wine), you can see Bill O'Reilly every night (until his god calls him home) on the Fox Noise Channel. Get a life, Bozo!
NOW, Back to Decatur stuff...
As a totally non-native Decaturanian (or whatever one should call it), having moved here about 10 months ago, I have done a lot of 'mining' for stuff that's worth doing.
The first place I found was the inexplicably haunted, Avon Theater, run by the inimitable Skip Huston and his wife and partner-in-crime, Sue. The Avon is a 90-plus-year-old movie house from the golden age of cinema houses; the Lincoln on Main Street, similarly dating from within a month of the Avon.
Skip was a native Decaturanian (sic) and after his stint on the left coast, returned to Decatur for exact reasons I don't know. Fortunately for us, he did because he runs the only multi-screen movie houses worth visiting between Chicago and St. Louis. Although the original Avon has been in re-operation for about a decade, in 2004, Skip opened the Avon Twins, which are two state-of-the-art, stadium seating theaters. The Avon not only offers the three largest screens in Macon County, but also the best popcorn and ambiance. OK, other than mentioning that Richland College offers film classes at the Avon, taught by an adjunct instructor (who remains nameless), that's enough gushing for the Avon and dear Skippy.
My next discovery was Haines and Essick at William and Main Streets. Aside from offering office supplies, gifts, a great toy store, a small book store, and a furniture gallery, H&E boasts a kitchen boutique, complete with a demo kitchen and gourmet cooking classes. I was told that Melodie Burris, the cooking diva who runs that department formerly ran "The Gathering Place" before setting up her new digs at H&E. Classes run most of the year and although I am still awaiting my first opportunity to sample the classes, I have to be satisfied with rummaging through the very nice offerings at the kitchen boutique.
Oh, and I've eaten at Porter's for dinner and the "host or whatever he is..." happens to be the host and owner, Gary Allen; sorry Gary, you get the credit or blame for what goes on at Porters. Actually, what has gone on a Porter's when I went there was a very classic, truly 'downtown' atmosphere, the best filet of beef I've ever had, quality un-sacrificed for quantity and very attentive service. Since I put my palate where my mouth is (Where else would it go?...lol), I'm meeting some friends driving down from Bloomin'borg (sic) for dinner at Porter's tonight.
There's more stuff I can go into, like the Decanter with their weekly Saturday wine tastings (the whiner can stay in the car and bitch about politics) but this is all I have the time for today.
Why don't you jump in and tell me how really all wet I am about this stuff, but I like my new domicile and I plan to write more in the future.
Looking for something not too far from Springfield (2 hrs.) that offers cooking class/meal etc. for anniversary gift. Hoping Decatur might have that.
Porter's On Merchant had a devil chef for about 8 months. Anyone who has had a bad experience there before Oct 08 needs to come back. Terry Martin is the Chef and he is amazing!
The truth of Decatur will always remain the same. What gems we have shine like stars, but it not enough to light up the sky.
You will notice that most people will fall back to the staples: Porters, the Avon Theater, or taking in a show at Millikin. No one can be faulted for any of these because they are all an amazing way to spend an afternoon. Porters, although fantastic, is one of a select handful of places to get a good high class meal. Leaving us with sad revelation that even something wonderful can become stale and boring when there are not any other comparable options to temper it with.
Paul's putting place has been in a steady decline of disrepair since I was a child. A recent return visit with my nieces and nephews confirmed the continuation of this trend. I'm not saying its the worst mini-golf I've ever been to, but no one is driving more than five miles to come to this place.
The Avon never fails to to make me smile. It is one of the few treasures of Decatur that we haven't let fall into shambles or turned into low income housing. (A trend that has helped to destroy property values and give our beautiful city its "sparkling reputation."
Clockwork Pizza is also a fantastic place to get a slice of pizza. I would argue to the teeth that it is the best pizza place in all of the city.
My sincere hope is that people start to realize the only way to bring money into a town is to attract people to a town. Decatur has an huge amount of wasted potential. It's not too late. We can save this city. We can make her shine again. What are you going to do to make her better?
Decatur is not a teen/young adult friendly town. Not very much exists that is free. Porter's is pretty okay, but I don't know very many college students who can pay for a steak. Bowling is a pretty good way to spend the time - again, if you have the money. I would love to walk around the lake at night, but I do not feel safe in Decatur at all. I know not everyone in this town is bad, but there are some unsafe areas. Also, no self respecting person on a budget goes to a bar. Over priced drinks? No thanks. But Decatur does not even have a dancing club. No real ethnic culture exists beyond the Indian restaurant by the old book barn (which are both amazing!). All of the Asian and Mexican restaurants are a far cry from authentic. In small towns like DeKalb, IL, we have free swing dance classes at local music clubs every Tuesday. That is only one example of free, clean fun that other towns have. Decatur falls very short. It is not ghost town, but it is no activity hub.
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