Oakhurst

Oakhurst has a tremendous community pride, and most residents delight in the neighborhood's reputation for liberal-mindedness. People of every age live in Oakhurst - college students, young couples with small children, and empty nesters. Oakhurst also prides itself on having a sizable gay community.

Since the neighborhood is very walkable and close to many good schools and parks, Oakhurst also has the reputation of being a great place for young professionals to start a family.  The sleepy, small-town atmosphere and security of Oakhurst make it an inviting neighborhood for young families- as witnessed by the huge numbers of kids on bikes and tricycles that you'll find along any of neighborhood's tree-lined sidewalks.

The whole of Oakhurst has a laid-back college town feel, so if you like relaxed southern living but don't want to be too far from the excitement of VA Highland and Midtown, Oakhust is a good place to be.

A lot of things to do here.

Oakhurst is a great value. A safe and walkable neighborhood with plenty to do, you can nonetheless find 2 bedroom apartments in the area for $800 - $900/month. If you do your research on Emory's Off-Campus Housing Finder and drive along the neighborhood's streets looking for 'for rent' signs, you should also be able to find houses and condos renting for $900 - $1100/month. The Oakhurst neighborhoods aren't quite as manicured as those around Downtown Decatur - several sidewalks are broken apart by tree roots and some lawns are allowed to go more 'natural' than others, but the rental properties are also bigger for less money. You'll get a 2 bedroom apartment in Oakhurst for what you'd pay for one bedroom in Downtown Decatur near the Square.

The East Lake MARTA rail station is located at the northwest corner of the Oakhurst neighborhood, and you can walk to the Decatur station in about twenty minutes. Nonetheless, if you live in Oakhurst, you'll probably want to have a car unless you plan to do a lot of walking and waiting. The nearest stop for the Emory shuttle is on Decatur Square, and although city buses do service this area and you'll be near the rail station, Atlanta's public transportation system is still less than perfect, meaning lots of transfers and long waits. If you don't plan to use your car on a regular basis, you might want to invest in a bike, which will save you time going to-and-from the more central transportation hubs.

For those with cars, however, Oakhurst is fairly convenient. DeKalb Avenue/East College Avenue bounds the neighborhood on the north and Memorial Drive on the south, and both will lead you pretty quickly into Atlanta or to 285. Parking is everywhere, sometimes to the detriment of the scenery, and you and your guests will never have to park far from your door or search for a spot.

Do's:

Do search the neighborhood for houses for rent or homes converted into condos before signing a lease at one of the apartment complexes - the older houses have a lot more charm and have usually been renovated to include all the nice, new appliances. With a little work on your part, you should be able to find a condo with hardwood floors, a fireplace, and a new refrigerator for around $900/month if you have the time to spend strolling down neighborhood streets and jotting down numbers from 'for rent' signs.

Do use Emory's Off-Campus Housing Finder, particularly if you're looking for roommates.

Do negotiate before signing the lease, particularly if you're a non-smoker without pets. A lot of the property owners are willing to drop the rent a bit for someone who they feel will take good care of the place.

Do chat-up the bartenders at Mezcalito's if you want good insider tips, these guys know everyone in town and might be able to hook you up with someone who hasn't even listed their property yet.

Do check your lease carefully to make sure you understand who is responsible for yard maintenance and pest control.

Don'ts:
Don't live too close to the freight train tracks that run along West College Avenue, those trains will sound their horns as they come into town during the dead of night.

Oakhurst is a very pet-friendly place. Happy couples walking their dogs to and from the gardens and parks are what many people associate with Oakhurst in the evenings. All the restaurants have outdoor seating, so your pet can usually join you for dinners out during the summer. You'll be just a few blocks from both the Animal Emergency Center of Decatur and the Village Vets, so pet care is in walking distance.

In short, it isn't necessary to have a pet if you live in Oakhurst, but its encouraged.

Oakhurst is a great place to grab a beer with friends at 6:00, head to dinner together at 7:00, and then stroll over to the solarium or sit on the patio of Palate for desert and wine by 9:00. On many evenings, impromptu concerts take place in the middle of Oakhurst Village as local musicians meet up for practice sessions in the gardens. The atmosphere is relaxed, but that doesn't mean that there's nothing to do. And since Downtown Decatur is just a fifteen minute walk away, more options are always close by. If you don't want to leave the immediate neighborhood, though, here are a few Oakhurst events that shouldn't be missed:

Each August, the BBQ Blues and Bluegrass Festival is held in Oakhurst's Harmony Park.

The Oakhurst Candlelight Jazz Concert Series is takes place on the grounds of the Historic Scottish Rite Hospital during September, with a live concert each Thursday night.

In October, the Oakhurst Arts and Music Festival takes place in Harmony Park.

Steinbeck's Oyster Bar has live music on Thursday and Saturday nights.

You can catch a flick at the Cinema Shack, one of the few neighborhood movie houses to hold-out against the multiplexes.

The Oakhurst Community Garden has events and classes, and is a great place to visit on any Saturday morning - particularly if you have kids.

You can enjoy a play at the nearby PushPush Theater, or see some live music at Eddie's Attic, both just a couple of blocks away.

Oakhurst Village, located at the intersection of East Lake Drive and Oakview Road, is the neighborhood's main shopping and eating district - so live as close to this area as possible and you'll never be far from a bite to eat and a beer. Many of Oakhurst's festivals and events take place here, often in the Solarium and the grounds associated with the Historic Scottish Rite Hospital. The restaurants and pubs at this intersection are good, and the area has a small town sleepiness that is rather charming. Sit on the patio of any of the restaurants, and it won't be long before you meet your neighbors.

Another street for good food and shops is West College Avenue, which forms Oakhurst's northern border. The Wahoo! Grill specializes in seafood, and has a delicious crab cakes. Sun In My Belly is another charming place to eat along West College Ave, particularly if you can make it for the Jazz Brunch on the first Sunday of every month from 11am - 2pm.

While there is a nearby Kroger on Commerce Drive in Downtown Decatur, its selection is a bit limited. For most grocery shopping, Oakhurst residents generally head to the Edgewood Retail District, a ten minute drive west of Oakhurst Village along DeKalb Avenue. This complex includes a larger Kroger, a Lowe's, a Target, and a Best Buy - making it a good place to stop on the way home from work if you want to get all your errands finished at once.

Snap Fitness is located right in the middle of Oakhurst, and their Boot Camp 101 class is very popular and a good way to meet friends if you're new in town, since the groups tend to get very close. Corebody Decatur is also located nearby, on West Howard Ave., and has a greater selection of classes - including pilates and yoga.

The nearest post office is the Decatur Post Office on Ponce, located a couple of blocks west of the Square.

Several banks are located in Downtown Decatur, a few blocks north of Oakhurst, the two largest being Wachovia (which has two branches along Ponce) and Bank of America (which has one branch on Clairmont).

Dry cleaners are everywhere, but Decatur Cleaners at 240 E Trinity Place is particularly good.

Oakhurst is a great place for children. There are several parks and the Oakhurst Community Garden, and its a safe enough neighborhood that most parents feel comfortable letting their kids spend long afternoons riding around on their bikes. Children in this neighborhood attend either Oakhurst or Winnona Park Elementary for kindergarten through third grade, and then graduate to the Glennwood Academy for 4th and 5th grades. The neighborhood middle school is Renfroe Middle School, where children attend grades 6 and 7, and the high school is Decatur High. There are also several private schools in the area, including the Friends School of Atlanta and the Waldorf School of Atlanta.