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DECEMBER 15, 2010 · VOL. 24 · NO. 50 · FREE

Time for a Downtown River District? p. 8

Xmas Guide

Local Businesses Extend Their Holiday Greetings p. 12

Skiffledog

The Animals’ Lead Guitarist Explores His Root p. 21

Charter Schools? p. 9 · Low Yo Yo Stuff p. 25 · Empty Stocking Fund Benefit p. 28 · Victor Charlie p. 30

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pub notes Wrong-Party Town When Rep. Doug McKillip runs for re-election in two years, he’ll be running in a newly drawn Republican-majority district, instead of his present heavily Democratic district.

Democrats won’t be able to exact their revenge for McKillip’s blatant betrayal, though it remains to be seen whether local Republicans will prefer him over one of their own. Republicans will be drawing the new legislative districts, and you can be sure they will dilute Democratic voting wherever they find it, as they have already done by splitting Athens-Clarke County into two rural, heavily Republican Senatorial districts. By the time Republican Representative Doug McKillip runs again, Five Points voters will probably find themselves in a state-representative district that includes a healthy swath of Oconee County.

Our state is fast heading back to being a one-party state, as it was for so many years under the Democrats, when all elections were decided in the white-only Democratic primary, effectively blocking blacks and Republicans from participation in politics. We’re just about back to that now, with the real action in the Republican primaries, and Democrats—including African Americans—increasingly ineffective in the General Election, as they are in the legislature.

To make matters worse, these Republicans in control are largely the suburban type who disdain cities, public schools, transportation other than SUVs, taxes, environmental protection, a living wage, equal rights and universal health care.

And of course many of these Athens, our oasis, is Republicans used to be Democrats, so the party label is under attack—from not as important as what they for. the inside and from stand You could say that Doug the outside.

McKillip is right, and that we all ought to become Republicans, including the entire black caucus in the legislature, to remove the stigma that automatically excludes us from participation. But when a party has so clearly identified itself as the party of the privileged and is so intent on steering our state away from equality for all, that party should be opposed, even when it holds the vast majority of power.

During much of the previous century African Americans and (mainly urban) Republicans—abetted by a minority of moderate Democrats—kept alive the hope that Georgia would outgrow its racist, big-business bias and evolve into a state where government provides for the good of all. There were brief moments when that hope came closer to realization, but on the whole our state government has consistently been subservient to the interests of large corporations, and our people have been deprived of the equality and educational opportunity essential to democracy.

That’s why places like Athens are invigorating oases in the desert of corporate domination that passes for conservatism and holds sway over most of the rest of the state.

That’s why we’ve got to be more careful in holding on to our progressive base here in Athens. We took it for granted this time around, and we allowed the election of a mayor who threw in with the local conservatives, who now have her ear.

Having seen how easy it is to operate under the radar in our “non-partisan” system, you can bet they’ll be back and gunning for commission seats in the next election. We fought for 20 years to elect a progressive mayor and commission; it could be gone in two years if we repeat this year’s sorry showing.

We need to do a better job of defining for ourselves and for the voters just what it means to be progressive (liberal, moderate) in Athens-Clarke County, as opposed to being non-progressive (conservative, radical). We need to develop an agenda, a list of goals for our community that progressives support.

Once we accomplish that, we can do away with labels like “progressive,” just as we have done away with Democratic and Republican locally. If we define our goals, we can hold candidates and elected officials to those goals instead of allowing the vague wishy-washiness of the recent mayoral election.

Mainly, we’ve got to be constantly aware that our Athens, our oasis, is under attack—from the inside and from the outside—by those who would prefer that our town be just like every other dull, auto-centric, gated suburban community in the state, and they will do everything in their power to cut the juice that lights our city on a hill.

Pete McCommons editor@flagpole.com

THIS WEEK’S ISSUE: News & Features City Dope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Athens News and Views

Another Athens politician has become a Republican, and, no, the Dope’s not being sarcastic.

Comment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Waiting for Change

Waiting for “Superman” has few ideas for how our existing public schools might be improved.

Arts & Events Theatre Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Looking Toward the 2011 Season

Most theatre companies will pick up their seasons again in January.

Movie Pick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

COVER DESIGN by Kelly Ruberto featuring a graphic rendering by Kevan Williams illustrating potential future development (green roofs) in and around downtown (see Athens Rising, p. 8)

Mumblecore in Space

Monsters is easily the most impressive cinematic achievement of the year.

Music

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Low Yo Yo Stuff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 The Beloved Downtown Record Store Returns

Building a non-virtual web of music lovers for 16 years and counting.

The Dream Lives On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 The 2nd Annual Tribute Concert for Jon Guthrie

The Athens music scene comes together to honor the memory of a young musician taken too soon.

LETTERS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 CITY DOPE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 CITY PAGES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 CAPITOL IMPACT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 ATHENS RISING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 COMMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 THEATRE NOTES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 THE READER. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 HOLIDAY SHOPPING GUIDE. . . . . . . . . . . 12 MOVIE DOPE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 MOVIE PICK. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

HILTON VALENTINE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 THREATS & PROMISES. . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 JON GUTHRIE TRIBUTE. . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 RECORD REVIEWS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 LOW YO YO STUFF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 THE CALENDAR!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 BULLETIN BOARD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 ART AROUND TOWN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 COMICS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 REALITY CHECK. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 CLASSIFIEDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 UGA OBSERVATORY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

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This week at Flagpole.COM

23

 Stay current on Athens news/opinions with Beyond the    

Trestle @ Flagpole Reality Check offers timely advice for the lovelorn Stay connected to the scene! Our music blog, Homedrone, offers late-breaking news items and multi-media coverage Talk back! We want to hear from you. Send a Letter to the Editor Don’t miss a thing! Check in for last-minute Calendar additions and changes

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EDITOR & PUBLISHER Pete McCommons ADVERTISING DIRECTOR & PUBLISHER Alicia Nickles PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Larry Tenner MANAGING EDITOR Christina Cotter ADVERTISING SALES Anita Aubrey, Melinda Edwards, Jessica Pritchard MUSIC EDITOR Michelle Gilzenrat CITY EDITOR Dave Marr CLASSIFIEDS, DISTRIBUTION & OFFICE MANAGER Nico Cashin AD DESIGNER Kelly Ruberto CARTOONISTS James Allen, Cameron Bogue, Jacob Hunt, Missy Kulik, David Mack, Tony Ransom ADOPT ME Special Agent Cindy Jerrell CONTRIBUTORS David Eduardo, David Fitzgerald, Anna Ferguson Hall, Chris Hassiotis, John Huie, Bao Le-Huu, John G. Nettles, Lauren Pruitt, Matthew Pulver, Rick Rose, Sarah Savage, Sydney Slotkin, Jordan Stepp, Brian Veysey, Drew Wheeler, Kevan Williams, Marshall Yarbrough CIRCULATION Charles Greenleaf, Nash Hogan, Jesse Mangum, Matt Shirley WEB DESIGNER Kelly Ruberto ADVERTISING & EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Jenny Peck ADVERTISING INTERNS Jessica Hipp, Emily Fearnley MUSIC INTERNS Sydney Slotkin, Marshall Yarbrough NEWS INTERN Lauren Pruitt

VOLUME 24 ISSUE NUMBER 50

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DECEMBER 15, 2010 · FLAGPOLE.COM

3

letters SOMETHING’S MISSING I attended the Mayor and Commission voting meeting on Dec. 7, in particular to hear the outcome of the Chi Phi fraternity’s specialuse permit application to build a 20,000-plus square-foot fraternity house on the property at 925 S. Milledge Ave., located at the intersection with Rutherford Street. This property is commonly referred to as historic Arnocroft; the historic house is not part of the redevelopment and will be mothballed for at least the short-term.

In case you missed it, there has been a lot of controversy about this project for over two years now. The project has been before both the planning commission and the historic preservation commission numerous times.

The neighbors in the vicinity of the property from both sides of Milledge, as well as representatives from Barrow Elementary School, for which that stretch of Rutherford serves as their official Safe Routes to School pedestrian route, have been involved from the beginning and have never stopped expressing their concern about and opposition to the project.

Over a dozen of these well-informed and well-spoken representatives have consistently shown up at all formal hearings for the project and presented their positions. In short, the neighbors’ concerns are centered on negative impacts to their quality-of-life, their property values, traffic issues, pedestrian safety, etc.

The necessary criteria for the neighbors to stop the development was to show that the addition of a fraternity use at that location would have a significant negative impact on their neighborhood and a greater negative impact than whatever else would be allowed to go there.

My point here is not to provide a blowby-blow of what transpired Tuesday, nor even to comment on the outcome. I want to comment on the actions of the commission once the discussion went behind the rail. To me, the procedures from that point on seemed orchestrated, and I felt as if I were observing a scripted discussion. After considerable intelligent, heartfelt and well-reasoned arguments by the neighbors and Barrow representatives, they received not one vote in their favor from the commission. Just about every commissioner who commented thanked the neighbors for all their hard work and gave lipservice to their anguish, but none seemed to step back and think for even a moment that the neighbors’ issues were real and should

4

CONTACT US AT P.O. BOX 1027, ATHENS, GA 30603, LETTERS@FLAGPOLE.COM OR VIA THE “TALK BACK TO US” LINK AT FLAGPOLE.COM The ordinarily informative and instructive possibly affect their decision. It was, I felt, column in the hands of Kevan Williams became astounding—a unanimous vote in favor of a vacuous flim-flam when penned by Dan large fraternity constructing its new 20,000Lorentz. plus square-foot fraternity house right next to Absent was any information regarding the and in the midst of single-family residential actual condition of Rick Hawkins’ properties neighborhoods. Really?!? in Athens and Lexington or any extenuating This commission seems to frequently have unanimous votes, especially with regard to big circumstances. There was no mention of the fact that commercial options at the Lexington issues. Perhaps it’s strange for me to complain properties are severely limited by the absence about this, but it’s just that I get the sense of sewer or any complementary commercial that there is so much going on before these activity in the small town of 65 families and votes occur and that the public is denied the 239 persons. In the hands of an investor benefit of hearing how these votes are arrived caretaker, at least restoration of Rick’s historic at; that by the time the commissioners sit structures remains a possibility, as opposed to down, there will be no surprises. I think comthe demolished St. Mary’s Church (of R.E.M. promise is absolutely essential to good govfame) adjacent to Rick’s print shop in Athens, ernment, and I am certainly happy that our or the long-unproductive lot across Oconee commissioners can find common ground, but I, for one, would find it refreshing to see a lit- Street.

Neither was there any consideration that tle dissension now and then, a little genuine debate going on behind the rail for all to see. developers squeezed and essentially orphaned I would like to hear the uncertainty that one the print-shop when the Steeplechase condos commissioner might were constructed. Nor have before he/she was there any symmakes a decision. pathy expressed for BUMPERSTICKER OF THE WEEK: Most importantly, I the victim of a fire— would like to think similar to that shown Be Nice to America or We’ll Bring that the comments the equally “historic” Democracy to Your Country of citizens who show Georgia Theatre. Or up at the commission are we to infer that Thanks, Sheridan. Send your sticker sightings meetings and step up vandalism and fire to letters@flagpole.com to the mike make a are “karma,” and difference. exactly what dilapiAs I watched the dators deserve? “discussion” of the commission on Dec. 7, it Are we also to infer that rehabilitation processes are rapid and obvious? Were not brought to mind the Seinfeld “Marble Rye” episode when George is having dinner with his the darlings of current preservationists— Cobbham, New Town, Boulevard—at one time parents and his soon-to-be in-laws. As George hopeless and impractical eyesores ripe for agonizingly rolls his eyes, his father carries demolition? Even our venerable City Hall was on about the sexual habits of chickens, hens slated for urban renewal! If only Rick had and roosters and finally says, “Something’s bought some of the fabulous Prince Avenue missing!” George’s mother-in-law takes a homes of which only photos now remain. swig of her wine and drunkenly deadpans, In fact, community forbearance and “Something’s missing all right.” That’s how I patience are essential, because diverse, felt at the end of the commission meeting: desirable development involves unplanned something’s missing.

Amy Kissane elements and evolves slowly, much as free Athens marketplaces produce the most congenial outcomes and the least harm. Surely Lorentz does not hold as civic heroes those visionary investors who gave us Tailgate Station and the Gameday condos, or who have brutalized Yellow journalism! The Dec. 1 Athens Rising Carrs Hill. included all the requisite elements: name-callAt best, the point of Lorentz’s column ing (Rick the Printer AKA the “Dilapidator”), was to demonstrate the common knowledge community horrors such as rodents, criminals, that public and private investments (or lack spreading “decrepitude” (huh?), fires, crumthereof) collectively generate additional public bling walls and, worst of all, scared investors. and private value—what economists label

FLAGPOLE.COM ∙ DECEMBER 15, 2010

HATCHET JOB

“external effects.” But that well intentioned point became specious when followed by a recommendation that the “city devote more resources to returning as many parcels as possible to productive use as quickly as possible.”

Is that the same city that pursues vibrant downtown objectives by ceding arterial streets to UGA superblocks and Classic Center exhibit halls, or the “productive use” embodied by yet another humongous and unnecessary parking garage among the other sterile lots already dedicated to surface parking; the same city that continues to divert public resources to the unquenchable appetite of an ever-expanding convention center, or a criminal justice system that builds for incarceration over rehabilitation; or a city that struggles to support diverse transportation options, greenways, public parks and protected waterways?

Finally, at the bottom, Lorentz’s column provides a welcome reference to the excellent advice of architect Witold Rybczynski—that dense urban areas can be extremely livable when complemented by the right mixture of diversity, public spaces, scale, view sheds, natural features and garden greenery. I only wish Lorentz had started there and constructively applied those principles to the discussions that hopefully will facilitate the expanded and viable downtown Athens so desperately needs, rather than fingering Rick the Printer as the fall guy for developmental stink extending down Oconee Street all the way to Lexington.

I also wish Lorentz had taken the opportunity to identify Rick as a founder and early printer of Flagpole magazine (with Dennis Greenia and Jared Bailey), and credit him for being among Athens’ most notable recyclers/ reusers/collectors. Pony-tailed Rick will always remain part of the music lore and counterculture of Athens: a talented printer, iconoclast, utilitarian, frugal entrepreneur and immutable hippie; a Spartan environmentalist who powers his diesel station-wagon with French-fry grease.

The fact is that Rick is far more visionary than accomplished, so easy to disparage.

But face it, the greater reality is that he has bought and benignly neglected buildings and other “junk” that no one else wanted, and otherwise would have been demolished, but now await the time for more focused involvement by the likes of a Lee Epting. Admittedly unconventional, Rick is nonetheless a closet preservationist, for which community recognition is due.

Carl Jordan Athens

city dope

services and public education? But wait, he’s switching over in order to better represent the interests of poverty-ravaged Athens and cutto-the-bone UGA! Oh, well… at least Doug’s not making any empty gestures.

Athens News and Views Fat Tuesday, Pt. 1: Last Tuesday, Dec. 7 was one of the more eventful Athens news days in recent memory. Early in the afternoon, word came through that Georgia Democratic Party Chair and Athens resident Jane Kidd would not seek reelection to her post in January. Far more surprising was the news, perhaps an hour later, that Georgia House District 115 Representative Doug McKillip, who replaced Kidd in that seat in 2006 and was just elected, unopposed, to a third term, had decided after careful deliberation that the best way for him to serve his constituents in heavily Democratic Clarke County was to become a Republican. Coming mere weeks after McKillip was named Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus—and on the very day many ACC residents received a mailed invitation to a fundraising reception in celebration of that anointment—the announcement left local Democrats scratching their heads and feeling badly burned.

Doug says he’s sick of sitting on the sidelines while the ever-growing Republican majority makes all the decisions. He hasn’t returned the Dope’s call, but he told Flagpole’s

Pete McCommons that when it became clear to him the Democratic leadership’s intentions were to “hold Republicans accountable” for their policies, he decided he didn’t want to spend the next two years “making gestures.”

That’s supposed to sound high-minded, but really, it’s not. At this point, if you’re an even moderately progressive Georgia legislator—which Doug has always claimed he is—and you’re voting on the Republicans’ agenda, which laughs in the face of even moderate progressivism, then politics is all about gestures. Gestures—such as diligently communicating the substance and consequences of unchallenged, radically conservative Republican policies to the people they affect—are the only weapons at your disposal with the hope of making things better, not worse. Doug told Pete he won’t cast votes on social issues that go against his values, but that he’s always been a fiscal conservative. Does that mean he won’t vote with his new caucus on the constitutional amendment to ban Sharia law, but will comfortably hop on board with the Republicans’ inevitable further de-prioritization of social

H A N C O C K

A drawing representing the program plans for the SPLOST 2011-funded Classic Center expansion. The shaded area that cuts off Hancock Avenue before it meets Foundry Street is the proposed expansion; the shaded enclosure to the left with the overhanging roof would replace the open-air courtyard behind the Fire Hall. This and other drawings illustrating the essential parameters of the project were attached to a request for proposals (RFP) for the final design, a passage of which reads, “The Project as programmed will require the abandonment and closure of the northeast lower portion of Hancock Avenue.” The RFP is meant to give firms bidding for the architectural contract specific and binding instructions for their proposed designs.

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Fat Tuesday, Pt. 2: The same day last week marked the final voting session for ACC Commissioner David Lynn and Mayor Heidi Davison. It was, befittingly, a marathon, and you can read about it in City Pages. But here, let it just be pointed out that it will be difficult to find a commissioner who works harder to make fair, sensible and thoroughly informed decisions than David, or a mayor as committed to fostering and maintaining an atmosphere of access, openness and direct, honest communication with her constituents as Heidi. That’s to say, they won’t easily be replaced. Great thanks to both for their eight years of service to their beloved Athens.

Trash Wednesday?: Nope, still Tuesday.

Remember that giant waste incinerator the citizens of Elbert County were so unhappy about that they spent months protesting in the streets to prevent it from being built in their community, only to have callow public officials approve it anyway, then collected thousands of signatures to hold a referendum on the issue, only to have two judges declare their petition invalid? Well, the company behind that incinerator, GreenFirst, LLC, announced last week that they won’t be building it after all, citing “economic concerns,” meaning they figured out they weren’t going to be able to make as much money as they thought. “Sorry about all that, everybody,” the ironically named corporation’s press release didn’t say. “We promise we’ll never do it again!”

Dave Marr news@flagpole.com

Paul Broun, Jr.’s Krazy Korner Watching all the gilded hoopla over the engagement of England’s Prince William, I couldn’t help thinking, why did we have to go and have a revolution against the British? Aristocracy and class by birth looks so glamorous! I soon found that Broun and I were already on the same page. Broun is making a stand against both the Democrats and the Republican leadership by demanding that the estate tax be wiped off the books. The estate tax taxes the estates of millionaires and billionaires upon inheritance. It’s what prevents the rich from becoming undeniably aristocratic. It’s what makes America America, in a way. Broun doesn’t like it one bit.

You see, Congressman Broun subscribes to something of a neo-aristocratic way of thinking: it is only by the wishes and whims of the economic elite that ordinary people can survive and succeed, according to Broun’s economics. We can’t do anything by or for ourselves (i.e., democratically), but only through the blessed actions of our elite benefactors. They used to call it “trickle down” economics, this theory that consistently favoring the ultra-rich through cutting their taxes and relaxing regulations on their quest for profit would result, ultimately, in some of that wealth making its way down to us lowly folks, the great many employees of those few elites. The theory has, in its 30 years of implementation leading into the current unemployment and debt crisis, shown itself to be a terrible failure, except as a means to shift wealth upward toward the elite.

Broun’s insistence that the defunct and dangerous “trickle down” theory is still legitimate led him to break from even his own party’s leadership. Broun is really in the political wilderness on this one. The GOP managed to secure a massive income tax cut for the richest 2 percent of Americans, but they were unable to do what Broun wanted: cut taxes even further on the rich and eliminate the estate tax altogether. The president and Republicans even worked out a $10 million threshold for married couples’ estates.

Only those above the mark—the upper tenth of the top one percent of American wealth holders—will pay an estate tax. But even that did not satisfy Broun. “Chin up, old chap! At least those ultra-rich elites you so devotedly serve won’t have to share much while they’re alive!” [Matthew Pulver]

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FLAGPOLE.COM ∙ DECEMBER 15, 2010

Despite continuing objections from nearby neighbors, UGA’s Chi Phi fraternity won approval Dec. 7 to build a new fraternity house on Milledge Avenue near Five Points.

The decision capped a dramatic evening of pro and con speeches at Tuesday’s ACC Commission meeting by both Chi Phi reps and citizens— and a two-year effort by the fraternity to gain the “special use” permit which all new fraternity houses in Athens must now have.

Frat life is “incompatible” with singlefamily neighborhoods, said Mark Cooney, a Dearing Street resident who (along with many other speakers) anticipated more noise and parking problems. “We like to go to bed early and get up early,” he said. “They like to go to bed late and get up late.” While game-day celebrations are an accepted “part of the price” of living in Athens, he said, “what is not OK is regular nocturnal noise” at other times: midnight parties and frisbee games, or shouts and conversations in the wee hours. Such sounds can carry farther than people may realize, and can repeatedly wake nearby residents, he said—but being intermittent, they are hard to cite under the noise ordinance.

Jim McGown and others said their neighborhoods “are at a tipping point” with noise and with increased car and pedestrian traffic threatening safety, especially for schoolchildren. Chi Phi’s “declared intention of providing the biggest and best fraternity house in Athens,” McGown said, “translates, among other things, to bigger and better parties.”

Lack of on-street parking was a concern of many residents who addressed commissioners.

But Athens’ nine-year-old residential parking

program (which issues parking permits to neighborhood residents along certain streets near UGA, while barring others from parking there) has “done what it’s supposed to do,” said Marla Whittington of ACC’s transportation department. Commissioners could extend that program to streets near the Chi Phi house if enough residents request it.

And the fraternity’s defenders (who included some neighbors) said Chi Phi has done everything it was asked to do. It voluntarily met “dozens” of times with neighbors and “endless” times with county staffers, said Jon Williams of Williams and Associates, a local design firm working with Chi Phi. It repeatedly redesigned the building plan, downsizing it at the request of the Historic Preservation Commission to appear more in scale with adjacent buildings, and agreed to an enforceable list of conditions that don’t apply to other frat houses (including no amplified music at the house’s rear; providing a resident manager who’s not an active Chi Phi member; and meeting every year with neighbors). The addition of the frat house is preferable to having six retail stores built on the lot, which would be permitted by the current zoning if the fraternity doesn’t build there, Williams suggested.

The commission agreed, despite their “angst,” as Commissioner Alice Kinman put it. They voted unanimously to add another Greek house to the 25 already on Milledge.

“We’re in a situation legally where we’re bound to put this here,” Commissioner Ed Robinson said. “There are more coming. We need to find space for them,” perhaps on Lumpkin, he said. ACC allows Greek houses in commercial and several other zoning districts, but not in single-family districts.

John Huie

capitol impact Can’t Have It Both Ways There is a word that describes a politician who promises you two things that are so contradictory there is no way both of them can happen in the real world. That word is “dishonest.” There are times when this word applies to the people who represent our great state in Congress—such as during the current debate over deficits versus tax cuts.

Georgia’s congressmen say that the federal deficit and the national debt have become so large that they endanger America’s future security.

Here’s how Sen. Saxby Chambliss expressed it last summer: “One of the most dangerous threats confronting America today doesn’t come from without, but from within. And I’m talking about our national debt… Three weeks ago, America’s national debt topped $13 trillion. And let me say that one more time: $13 trillion is owed by the United States of America today. That number is so big it’s difficult to comprehend.”

Rep. Tom Price of Roswell said this “explosion of debt… threatens to destroy any hope of sustained job creation and economic growth” and must be reduced “if we hope to pass on a strong America to our children.”

Rep. Lynn Westmoreland of Coweta County declared that it’s time for Congress to “get serious about paying off the national debt.”

Chambliss, Price and Westmoreland are correct to express such worry about the size of the national debt. The country’s indebtedness should be brought under control so that our grandchildren and great-grandchildren don’t get stuck with paying the bills that our generation runs up. At the same time they are expressing such concern about the national debt, however, our guys in Congress are also saying that we’ve got to extend the Bush tax breaks for wealthy Americans that are set, by law, to expire on Dec. 31.

“One of my top priorities in the Senate is to make these tax cuts permanent,” Sen.

Johnny Isakson said recently. “I will do everything I can to see that we take action.”

Here is the problem: extending the Bush tax cuts will add quite a lot to our long-term fiscal problems. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that extending all of the Bush tax cuts would add $2.7 trillion to the national debt by 2020. Extending these tax breaks just for the wealthiest two percent of Americans, as Georgia’s congressmen want to do, would add an estimated $830 billion alone to the national debt over that same period.

Do our congressmen really want to start reducing the country’s huge debt load? Or would they rather extend the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans?

You can do one or you can do the other. You can’t do both.

If our congressmen vote to extend those tax cuts, they are voting to drive the country even further into debt, because the cost of those tax cuts will amount to nearly $3 trillion over the next decade. If you vote for the tax breaks, you’re being a hypocrite to keep expressing false concerns about the national debt.

I would guess that our representatives in Congress think tax breaks are more important than reducing the federal debt.

That’s an issue that is worthy of a spirited debate over the next two years. But it is deeply dishonest for someone to say that we have to take action to reduce the national debt at the same time that he is supporting tax cuts that will make the debt level deeper and more intractable.

You can do one or you can do the other.

You can’t do both. Our politicians owe it to us to start being honest about this.

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athens rising

for the community in the first seven years. There would be a significant focus on providing jobs for low- to middle-income people in the community, with jobs that they could walk or bike to being a key component. Tax revenues in the first year might be around $4–5 million and increase annually. Over 20 years, such a project could result in approximately $3.2 billion in economic impact for the Athens community. As the concept is honed and the community weighs in, those numbers will be vetted and changed as time goes on and the models for Forget about that image on the cover showing all those new economic growth. Briefly, land would be held by the non-profit funding are worked out, but this is a good point from which to buildings down along the river. Throw out whatever anyone’s organization or authority that ultimately manages this place, begin the discussion. told you about what Athens could or could not be. Forgive any- and leased at low cost to businesses who move in and build What this district will ultimately include is up to the comone you ever argued with about pedestrian malls and parking in the zone and implement the vision. Low-interest loans and munity. The makeup of businesses here should reflect the valdecks. Right now, we have the opportunity to start the conother incentives would be another big draw. This is the way to ues and fabric of Athens. Already, though, some ideas are being versation over. This isn’t an academic exercise, though; we’re level the economic playing field among us and our peer comconsidered and pursued to anchor this district. The Georgia doing this with the tools that, if used correctly, could help us munities, so that we can focus on selling the many things that Music and Sports Halls of Fame have been considered as realize the dreams we have for this community. There’s a good are great and unique about Athens. We have culture and qualpotential tourism anchors, along with a home for the Georgia chance that this is what we were waiting for. ity of life that so few have; rather than choosing between Natural History Museum. That museum alone would result in The ideas for how this might work came, in part, out of disthat and better financial opportunities, now we can give busiover 200 jobs being created and could be the iconic sort of cussions by some concerned and inspired community members nesses both. draw that makes Athens a major destination for tourism. following the Athens Clarke Heritage Foundation’s Urban An amphitheater capable of hosting concerts that draw Design Symposium this past spring, and the follow-up from around the region could help Athens capitalize on presentation I gave this summer at Ciné. Recently, I’ve its music industry. Business incubators, office buildings had the privilege of being a part of a conversation and data centers have all been explored as possibilities now being led by the ACC Economic Development for bringing in and creating new high-tech jobs. Tying Foundation about creating what’s been dubbed an it all together would be a new riverwalk along the North “Economic Development Zone” on the eastern edge of Oconee and other high-quality urban spaces, building on downtown Athens.

Athens’ maturing café culture in a way that makes this Although my view of all this may seem rather glowcommunity an even bigger draw for the region. ing, compared to the typically more critical approach of What’s important to remember is that this is a tool this column, it’s because I believe that this is the best that will let Athens proactively shape its economic chance at dramatic and lasting change we’re going to future in a cohesive and comprehensive way, rather get in Athens for a long while. The temporarily dampthan reacting as each isolated development crops up in ened economy (and it is only temporary!) has changed an unexpected and unwelcome place. What specifically the landscape enough that people who might not norgoes here is up to the people of this community, should mally have been talking are, and those strange bedfelthey wish to pursue this. If Athens decides it wants to lows have come up with something quite special. create a bio-medical research and development zone, This week, I’d like to focus on what this big idea is, here’s the way to do it. and what it means for some of our ongoing conversaIn the next few days, proposals will pour into the tions. Next week, we’ll get our hands a little dirtier digAthens Downtown Development Authority’s office for ging into how this thing might work and come together. how various design and planning companies about how This zone is centered on the swathes of vacant land Sporadic development, including the Multi-Modal Transportation Center and the colossal to conduct a visioning study for downtown Athens.

909 Broad apartments, has popped up between downtown and the North Oconee River in between the historic downtown grid and the North That study just got a whole lot less academic. We should recent years. Could this be the time to move forward with a concerted plan for the area?

Oconee River, roughly between Dougherty and Broad. take that opportunity and use it to really explore where People have often talked about a hypothetical River we’re headed, and how these economic tools could District and what other land use decisions might mean for What better spot to focus on new businesses than immediactually help us get there. The Classic Center, rolling forward it; this is how that abstract notion becomes concrete. Over ately adjacent to our state’s flagship university, a major conas it is with its expansion, has put forward one idea about the past few months, that EDF-led team has taken advantage vention center, the future commuter rail link to Atlanta, and a downtown. The university has its own part to play in what of the lulled real estate market and pulled together options five-minute drive from our local airport? Five planned greenhappens around downtown, with the Special Collections Library on various pieces of private property in the area that, when way spokes will already converge here, weaving from attractive under construction and pointing one way forward. UGA also coupled with the public parcels already waiting for a better and affordable neighborhoods through beautiful greenspaces controls significant swathes of land that could reinforce what use, will create a contiguous zone in which to work. The goal to an already vibrant downtown. If that’s the commute and Athens does. All of these folks need to be at the table as we is to create a truly successful central business district by downtown is the lunch spot, this district will be a place where head forward, so that the strengths and talents of all these providing the type of atmosphere and incentives that attract people will want to work. Currently, downtown’s business entities and people can be harnessed to create a solution that high-quality jobs and high-quality employees. makeup and Athens’ general economic makeup aren’t diversibenefits everyone. This new zone will help produce a better The great flaw in the strategy of using Highway 316 as a fied. Downtown is a bar and entertainment district primarily, convention center, a better university and a better historic corridor for growth is that, by being between the universities and Athens is UGA’s company town. This is a way out of that downtown district. of Athens and Atlanta, it is really nowhere at all. Why put your precarious position. More daytime users of downtown will creThis is a blank canvas in many ways, and what goes on it business an hour from both cities, receiving marginal benefit ate the market to broaden the retail makeups. It doesn’t mean is up to all of us. Think of where we are now as the first leg of from each, when you could be right in the middle of the beatfewer bars, but it does mean more businesses will likely look at the relay. The EDF-led team that pulled together the land and ing, jumping heart of one? how they could capitalize on this growing “adult,” rather than the concepts we’re talking about has passed all of us one hell This zone would instead allow Athens to focus on sellstudent market. of a baton. Now the community gets to run with it. ing our many local assets to attract and grow businesses, by The meat of the idea is what really matters, though. Initial eliminating some of the previous barriers to downtown’s estimates show that over 600 jobs could be directly created Kevan Williams athensrising@flagpole.com

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Waiting for Change Their names are Daisy, Anthony, Francisco, Emily and Bianca. Through the stories of these five students, viewers of Davis Guggenheim’s Waiting for “Superman” are invited to look past the statistics and into the heart of the issue: the “failing” national public school system.

At a Dec. 2 screening of the film at Ciné, audience members were given the opportunity to attend a panel discussion on the subject after the film. The small theater was packed when the film began. The opening lines, a voice-over by Geoffrey Canada, broke the complete silence in the room.

“One of the saddest days of my life was when my mother told me Superman didn’t exist,” the educator and activist says. “I was crying because there was no one coming with enough power to save us.”

Early in the film, Guggenheim tells his own story, one that establishes his credibility in the subject at hand. His 2001 television documentary The First Year followed five teachers for a year and chronicled the impact they made on their students. Now, he’s following five current students in different public schools, each hoping to be selected in a lottery for admission to a charter school.

While Guggenheim has experience with the education system, the extensive research cited in this film goes beyond the graduation rates and dismal test scores in each state. Waiting for “Superman” looks closely at teachers’ unions and the problems they create within the national public school system, as well as the effects of numerous pieces of legislation.

The problem is clear, according to the film: public schools are failing. Although the focus is mainly on California and Washington, D.C., no state is left out of the overall picture. Big names added their input on the issue, from the commentary by Canada, founder of the Harlem Children’s Zone, to Bill Gates weighing in on the economic future of the country if few students are truly educated in math and science.

The most powerful voice in the film, in both her personality and her plans, is Michelle Rhee, the now-former chancellor of the Washington, D.C. public school system. Her radical ideas sparked controversy as she closed down over 20 public schools and fired numerous principals. Rhee made it clear she needed no friends in the system, but never won her fight against the teachers unions.

In the Ciné screening, Guggenheim’s film was living up to the hype—to a point. The information he presented was unique and powerful, and the students he followed had dramatic stories. Anticipation built in the audience for some magical answer to the problem. Some kind of solution, some way the future of American youth would not be hopeless.

It would be an understatement to say I was disappointed in Guggenheim’s solution: Send your children to charter schools. Put them through the lottery and cross your fingers.

This, the only solution given, left me feeling more hopeless than before. I have five more months in our school system, seeing the issues I know many of my classmates don’t.

Guggenheim calls public schools “dropout factories.” Clarke Central High School, a few miles from Ciné, has a dropout rate of over 30 percent. And that’s something the district is proud of, because it’s gone down so much.

After all the hope that was built up by this film, all of the statistics that made me wonder if I should feel proud to be on track to graduate, the proposed solution to America’s education challenges felt empty.

Those five children Guggenheim followed, although struggling in their respective schools, all had parents who were passionate about their education. They felt so strongly about it that they entered their children in a charter school lottery. They are the minority. They are uncharacteristic examples in the sense that so many of us are left behind if it takes a dedicated parent to allow us a chance at this ideal solution. Before the basic problems with the lottery system should even enter one’s mind, one has to consider all the students they’re already turning their back on. The film ended with calls to action and messages of change.

The room slowly emptied, and many quietly left while others filed into the discussion.

Although the pre-screening publicity had promised the panel would include educators from CCHS and UGA, it was actually composed of three college students from Teach for America.

While they were experienced, the only topic up for discussion seemed to be the faults in the lottery system; that it could never be allinclusive. The solution arrived at was to build more charter schools, and allow more students to enter into the charter school system. This ideal model of the charter school was becoming, according to the discussion, a replacement for the public school system, instead of trying to base improvements to public schools off of these new ideas.

As people spoke passionately about the issues they saw in public schools, the idea became more and more strongly encouraged that charter schools were the answer.

Guggenheim’s vision to stop seeing statistics and start seeing students was turned on its head. People were seeing the ideas of charter schools, the data that they produced, but not the students beyond their own families.

Students are being forgotten. I see them in the hallways every day. Students who are unsure of what to do after high school, or of whether they can even make it through. As caring community members turn away from public schools and the influence they could have there, they’re turning their backs on the youth in their community.

I’m still there. Thousands are still there, waiting for change.

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Lauren Pruitt Lauren Pruitt is a news intern at Flagpole and a senior at Clarke Central High School, where she is Viewpoints Editor of the award-winning Odyssey Newsmagazine.

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THU. DEC. 30 FRI. DEC. 31

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Looking Toward the 2011 Season Although there are lots of performances around the area during the holidays, most companies will pick up their seasons again in 2011. Here are some current and upcoming productions for your delight: Rose of Athens Theatre offers No Shame Theatre, an open showcase of short original works, at Hendershot’s Coffee Bar, Dec. 17.

They start performances back up Jan. 18 and then on every Tuesday evening. Frankenstein Lives! continues on tour until March 2011.

RoA‘s Fall Theatre Academy class presentation is 10:40 a.m., Dec. 17 at the Tae Kwon Do Center in Alps. Auditions for Alice in Wonderland and As You Like It are Feb. 2, location is TBD. Email danielle@roseofathens.org for an audition time-slot.

com). See www.circleensembletheatre.com for more info.

Town and Gown Players continue their Mainstage season with Dancing at Lughnasa

by Brian Friel, directed by Leara Rhodes; Feb. 11–13 & 17–20. The play depicts five unmarried sisters in a small village in Ireland during the festival of Lughnasa, which celebrates the pagan god of the harvest with drunken revelry and dancing. The Second Stage season continues with Crave, by Sarah Kane, directed

by Ashley Laramore, Feb. 25–27. Auditions for Little Shop of Horrors, directed by G. Derek Adams, run Feb. 14 & 15, and performance dates are Apr. 8-10 & 14-17. Auditions for

Athens Creative Theatre presents LIVE ART: Sweethearts of the Stage, Feb. 12, 13 & 18, 19, 20. Auditions for the all-female repertory show, The Dixie Swim Club, are Jan. 10 & 11, with performances Apr. 1–3 & 8–10. ACT Summer Camp Registration is in April. Go to www.athenscreative theatre.com for more info.

Athens Little Playhouse The Annie orphan ensemble is fronted by Malia Horst, a first-grader at Athens will open Rapunzel, Feb. Montessori who plays the youngest orphan, Molly.

25–27 and Mar. 4–6.

Oconee Youth Playhouse presents the everShakespeare’s Twelfth Night, directed by Fran popular musical Annie, Jan. 7–9 & 14–16.

Teague, will be Apr. 11 & 12, and performance The current production features a cast of 170, dates are June 10-12 & 16-19. See www. ranging in age from kindergartners to adults. townandgownplayers.org for more info.

Claire Vogel, a fifth-grader at High Shoals Elementary School, landed the title role. Other Athens Academy’s next Mainstage show will featured orphans are Megan Hodgson (Pepper); be Rodgers & Barer’s Once Upon a Mattress: Bailey Chastain (July); Antonia Bowen An Adaptation for Pre-High School Students.

(Duffy); Gracin Wilkins (Tessie); and Sawyer This production of Mattress boasts a cast Bradford (Kate). Malia Horst is the youngest of 32 seventh- and eighth-grade students. orphan, Molly. Kelli Bull plays Miss Hannigan, Performance dates are Feb. 10–12. North and Daddy Warbucks will be played by Richard Oconee High School presents Arthur Miller’s Hoard. Other adults include John Brantley as The Crucible, Feb. 18–20.

President Franklin Roosevelt and Bob Googe, Jeff Dibling and Mark Vagle as cabinet memUGA’s Department of Theatre and Film bers. Brantley shares the stage with his son Studies’ spring semester season includes Chase, who plays the role of Rooster. Other Mainstage production Fuddy Meers, by cabinet members are Doug Ivey, who played David Lindsay-Abaire, Jan. 27–29 & Feb. Daddy Warbucks in OYP’s 2000 production of 2–5. Nothing is what it seems in this quirky, Annie, and Lynn Renna, who was seen in Willy twisted comedy/mystery about a woman Wonka. Other featured cast members are North with a rare condition that erases her memory Oconee High School students Collier Cobb as whenever she goes to sleep. The Studio Series Grace Farrell, Jackie Raye as Lily St. Regis, includes Ruined, by Lynn Nottage, a Pulitzer and Dayne Joyner as Bert Healy. Amy Coenen, Prize-winning play which uses humor and song a former OYP performer herself, is assistant to address the raw and brutal realities of war director and Rachel Townes is musical director. in the Congo, Feb. 15–20; and Aunt Dan and Lemon, by Wallace Shawn, Mar. 29–31 & Apr. Circle Ensemble Theatre’s next production 1–3. This interesting “assault on the liberal will be three original one-acts by Dan Guyton conscience” was originally produced in 1985 in February. Two are world premieres written and again at the Royal Court in 2009. The for CET, and one has already won a Kennedy final offering of the season is the Mainstage Center award. Playwright Daniel Guyton has production of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, won numerous awards, including two Kennedy Apr. 14–16 & 20–22 in the Fine Arts Theatre.

Center/ACTF awards for his plays Attic and See www.drama.uga.edu for more info.

Where’s Julie?, and his plays have been produced in New York City, Iceland, Canada, L.A., There are other holiday productions Portland, Albany and Atlanta. Guyton’s short throughout the area, often produced by plays have been published in The Twisted churches and other non-theatrical organizaMind of Daniel Guyton (Poetry & Plays in the tions as part of the season’s celebrations.

Dark Comedy Vein), and his plays Attic, Spat!, Please support all live productions in our area.

Where’s Julie?, The Mother of God Visits Hell And have a joyous new year! and Georgie Gets a Facelift have been published in other collections (www.danguyton.

Rick Rose theatre@flagpole.com

k

the reader The Sum of Its Parts Here’s a shout-out to Michael Plumides. A while back I reviewed his self-published book, Kill the Music, about his life as a college-radio jock and club owner in the heady late-’80s days of the Southern Music Boom, using it as an example of why self-publishing is a bad idea. The thrust of the review, for those who don’t care to go back and read it, was that it was a very interesting book worthy of a read for its glimpse into the life of someone who did something none (or since this is Athens, very few) of us can say we did, but that the book suffered from the lack of an editor’s hand to focus it and rein in the author’s excesses.

Plumides, a mensch if I’ve ever met one, promptly contacted me and respectfully called me out on my criticisms. We gave each other some good-natured shit for awhile, and now we’re friends on Facebook, and I get regular updates on the tireless promotion he’s done for his book, the second edition (!) of which is now in the North Carolina library system and doing brisk sales online.

Plumides hasn’t changed my mind about an author’s need for an editor or about the thankless endeavor of self-publishing, but he did turn me around on the idea that a self-published book is a lost cause. After all, who am I to put down the efforts and aspirations of anyone with a story to tell? Sure, it’s risky. Sure, the subsidy press is too often the refuge of the untalented, the egotistical and the downright crazy. But for the fiercely independent writer who finds himself or herself outside the niches of mainstream publishing, especially since the industry has stopped buying in these days of a shaky economy and the rise of e-books, I’ll amend my position and say go for it—just please proofread your work.

The reason I revisit the topic of selfpublishing is because a book recently came across my desk from Authorhouse, a subsidy publisher/distributor, that I was prepared to ignore—not that I’m a book snob, but it really gives me no pleasure to trash a book or to read a book I don’t enjoy simply to write about it. But thinking of Plumides’ book compelled me to give this one a shot. Besides, it’s

a book about the American space program and The Beatles, two topics that are deep inside my wheelhouse.

Into the Sky with Diamonds: The Beatles and the Race to the Moon in the Psychedelic ‘60s is by Ronald P. Grelsamer, a highly respected orthopedic surgeon from New York who ordinarily writes books explaining the facts about knee and hip surgery to laymen.

This book, under the banner of Hey Bulldog Press, is a book about Grelsamer’s passions: the Fab Four and the wildcat early days of NASA. It’s a timely book, as both institutions began 50 years ago and burned brightest between 1960 and 1970, when the Beatles broke up and landing on the moon (incredibly) became old news.

Grelsamer alternates chapters following the efforts of the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programs to catch up to the humiliating lead the Soviets had attained in the Space Race with the exploits of The Beatles from the early days playing strip clubs in Hamburg to the days when they couldn’t stand to be in the same studio together. The cohesive device for these parallel storylines is a fictional correspondence between Dutch Richtman, a communications engineer for NASA, and Mal Evans, a real person who roadie-d for The Beatles. Richtman tells Evans how things are going at Cape Canaveral (not well, most of the time), and Evans tells Richtman about hauling gear for the biggest clashing egos on Earth. Between them, Grelsamer provides a panoramic portrait of the (insert cliche) turbulent decade through the eyes of two men living in its flashpoints.

Unfortunately, the cohesive device fails to cohere, and it is quickly and uncomfortably obvious as a gimmick.

Grelsamer, like all enthusiasts, wants to include every single thing he knows about his subjects in his work, and he knows a lot, and so Richtman’s narrative becomes narration and Evans’ letters read like foreign correspondence of the newscast variety. Throughout the course of the book, Richtman includes details of his fictional personal life, but they feel like an afterthought alongside the extensive history of NASA he’s spent pages throwing out.

It’s pretty clear from the get-go that Grelsamer has written two very good books, about NASA and about The Beatles, and attempted to fuse them into one not-so-good narrative, and this is what an editor might have done for him. Said editor would have sat down with Grelsamer and perhaps persuaded him to write the NASA book as a straight piece of non-fiction, fleshed out with as much detail as his prodigious research would afford, and then done the same with a Beatles book.

Neither book would be as authoritative as others on the market, but Grelsamer’s talent would have made both better reads than a lot of the stuff on bookshelves now.

This is what makes reviewing self-published books hard: the knowledge that had the author just held on, rethought and revisited, and put his or her book through a few more filters, the potentially good book might be carried to term and the bad book could die in utero. Grelsamer’s book is in fact two good babies; it’s his desire to make them Siamese twins that disappoints.

John G. Nettles

DECEMBER 15, 2010 · FLAGPOLE.COM

11

Holiday Guide

Flagpole’s Businesses Extend Season’s Greetings and Welcome The Gallery Shop at Lyndon House Arts Center

293 Hoyt St., 706-613-3623 Browse a vast array of seasonal and gift-oriented arts and crafts created by local artists, including original wreaths, tabletop decorations and ornaments sure to become family heirlooms. In addition, “Deck the Walls,” expanding into the lower atrium gallery, is a showcase of paintings featuring gardens and flowers. Hats, scarves and “texting mittens” are available for purchase to keep you warm while strolling through our winter garden. Tuesdays–Saturdays, 12–5 p.m. through Jan. 5, 2011.

Good Dirt Clay Studio and Gallery

510 N. Thomas St., 706-355-3161 Good Dirt is a spacious, well-equipped facility for people of all ages and abilities to explore clay and other media. Our schedule of winter classes (starting early January) in pottery, sculpture and glass is at www.gooddirt.net. Gift certificates for classes and workshops available. The Gallery @ Good Dirt will feature local potters through Dec. 23. Our annual studio open house was held Dec. 10–12, with wheel workshops and demonstrations.

truffles from Little Cuckoo. For the naughty we have handmade burlap stockings filled with Charlie Mustard’s “Christmas Coal”: Nicaraguan coffee roasted to a super dark Italian Roast. It’s good to be naughty… sometimes. Happy Holidaze! www.hendershotscoffee.com

New Earth Music Hall

227 W. Dougherty St., 706-543-8283 This holiday season we’d like to present to you…

FRI.,12/17: Conspirator Feat. Adam Dietch of PRETTY LIGHTS and Aron of DISCO BISCUITS. THU., 12/30: The Glitch Mob with very special guests DubConscious 2.0. FRI., 12/31: NYE Celebration with The Glitch Mob and DubConscious 2.0. FRI., 1/14: Bonobo DJ Set. THU., 2/3: Emancipator w/ Blockhead.

FRI., 2/11: RJD2. Happy Holidays!

Office Lounge

bowling. Come out early for happy hour from 3:30 ‘til 9:30 p.m. for a dollar off the already low prices.

Health and Beauty Advanced Massage Therapies

1363 S. Milledge Ave., 706-369-7595 Peggy Gugino offers a winter time treat: Hot Stone Massage.

The heat from the stones deeply penetrates the muscles, increasing the blood flow to the tissues, enhancing the healing process. Peggy is Athens’ most highly regarded Hot Stone Massage practitioner. We have Gift Certificates and offer many additional styles of bodywork: Sports, CranioSacral Therapy, Deep Tissue and more. Bob Klein, Amy Bramblett, Peggy Gugino and Molly Blackshear wish you a joyous Holiday Season! www.AdvancedMassageTherapies.com

2455 Jefferson Rd., 706-546-0840 December 17th come to our 2nd Annual Strung Out Like the Lights at Christmastime Empty Stocking Fund Raiser! Featuring Bo Bedingfield, Clay Leverett, Betsy Franck, The Welfare Liners, Workhorses of the Entertainment/Recreation Industry, Dodd Ferrelle, David Barbe w/Todd Nance, Jon Mills, John Neff, Frank

DRee & Co

McDonell, Romper Stompers (members of Widespread Panic and Bloodkin), Bloodkin and The Burning Angels. $5 donation suggested. Also come see Shortbus All Stars at our Christmas party on December 18th.

dollar amount to use towards a relaxing spa treatment or for a new look in 2011, where you can find us at our NEW Location, 760 N. Chase St. We will be open Christmas Eve until 2 p.m.; call ahead for easier pick up. Online booking available at www. dreeandco.com. Become a fan on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for info & same day specials.

497 Prince Ave., 706-548-0770 This Holiday Season you can still find us on Prince Avenue to pick up all things beautiful and relaxing. Choose from wonderful Aveda products for stocking stuffers or gift cards in any Carlo Nasisse

Art—Retail and Galleries

Bars and Clubs 40 Watt Club

285 W. Washington St., 706-549-7871 ‘Tis The Season. If you’re out and about this week, join us Friday, Dec. 17th for our Holiday Party with Five-Eight, Athens Band, The Orkids and Victor Charlie. Saturday is in remembrance of Jon Guthrie, “Living the Dream,” featuring lots of local musicians. Don’t forget to Ring in 2011 at our NYE Party w/ of Montreal. 40 Watt Club would like to wish our Families, Neighbors and Patrons a Very Happy and Safe Holiday Season.

283 Bar

283 E. Broad St., 706-208-1283 We have been serving tasty cocktails to happy customers for almost 13 years. Our relaxed atmosphere provides a great place for a date or to hang with friends. A great selection of holiday cocktails and beers are on the menu this season. Join us for happy hour Thursdays and Fridays starting at 5 p.m. and rockin’ dance parties most weekends. Friend us on Facebook to keep up to date with our events. Come by for a cocktail! You name it; we mix it.

Alibi Saloon

50 Gaines School Rd., 706-549-1010 Kick off the Holidays at Alibi! Come by on December 17th for our righteous Christmas Party. Have you been naughty or nice? We’re having an early and a late-night celebration.

Southern Soul will be rockin’ out! Come back to ring in the New Year with the Dalton Gang! Check out our Facebook page for our weekly event schedule all year long… we have karaoke, beer pong, DJ dance parties and live music every Friday!

Hendershot’s Coffee Bar

1560 Oglethorpe Ave., 706-353-3050 At Hendershot’s Coffee Bar this holiday season we will offer gift ideas for both naughty and nice list folks. For the nice, a handmade record bowl containing a Hendershot’s 12 oz. coffee/tea mug, 2 packs of coffee and handmade lemon cream

12

FLAGPOLE.COM ∙ DECEMBER 15, 2010

The Pub at Gameday

251 W. Clayton St., 706-353-2831 Enjoy the things that make life worth living: spirits and good times. With over 120 beers, top-shelf liquors, delicious wines and all your favorite cocktails, The Pub offers plenty of good times in a comfortable atmosphere with free Wi-Fi. Play classic board games or challenge your friends to darts or Wii

Mind Body Institute

1199 Prince Ave., 706-475-7330 Give the gift of health with a gift certificate from Athens Regional Mind Body Institute! Our evidence-based services including Yoga, Tai Chi, Mindfulness, Acupuncture, Therapeutic

Carlo Nasisse Leather & Outdoor

downtown

546-5014

PUSH

www.masadaleather.com

PUSH

Massage, Health Consultations, Nutritional Counseling and Psychotherapy help people be healthy and well. Folks who come to the Mind Body Institute feel and sleep better; have reduced symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression; have less pain and better control of chronic conditions. Visit www.armc. org/mbi or call 706-475-7330. Happy Holidays!

Rocket Salon

163 N. Jackson St., 706-353-0500 ‘Tis the season to celebrate with family and friends. Pamper and indulge yourself with a cut and color to spiff up before your parties begin. Rocket offers a variety of hair services in a fun, laid-back atmosphere. Our fanatical fan-base consists of hipsters, rockers, professionals, students and ladies who lunch.

Everyone is welcome. Come celebrate our 5-year anniversary this December and for a complimentary consultation. Gift certificates available this holiday season.

Shenanigans Salon

1037 Baxter St., 706-548-1115 We take an individual approach to hair styling. Every service is tailored to suit your unique look and hair care needs. Our stylists specialize in creating designs that compliment facial structure, hair texture, personal taste and style upkeep. Client satisfaction is our number-one priority. This season we are accepting donations for Locks of Love. Purchase stocking ornaments for a minimum donation of $5.00 and receive $10.00 off your next visit or a free service. www.shenaniganssalon.com

Urban Sanctuary Spa

810 N. Chase St., 706-613-3947 Our Gift Certificates, your best bet… Why?… They never expire! They spend like cash. They can be applied towards products or services. We have something for EVERYBODY. Delightful gifts & spa products for men, women, dogs & babies.

Printed on recycled paper & wrapped with eucalyptus & raffia.

Quite elegant… Very flexible… Manicures, pedicures, organic facials, waxing & massage. Our day spa & gift boutique are open 7 days a week! www.urbansanctuaryspa.com

Weekend Wellness Group

www.weekendwellnessgroup.com, 770-313-5036 It’s almost 2011! You’ve made resolutions to get healthy before but you’ve never had support like this to see them through. We’re the Weekend Wellness Group and we want to give you the tools and support you need to start the new year off right. That’s why we created the Weekend Wellness Workshop, a 12-week course starting in January to help you discover whole foods, whole health and whole happiness. Visit our website for details!

to get promoted. to

Hotels

party.

Foundry Park Inn & Spa

295 E. Dougherty St., 706-549-7020 Looking for the perfect gift? Whether you want to treat someone to our award-winning Spa, a night on the town listening to the best live music in Athens at the Melting Point, spending the night in our hotel or dining at the Hoyt House Restaurant, a Foundry Park Inn & Spa gift card is the perfect gift and good at any outlet. Don’t forget to join us for our Totally ‘80s New Year’s Eve with The Highballs!

Hotel Indigo

www.indigoathens.com, 706-546-0430 Spend the holidays with Hotel Indigo-Athens! Join us on December 16th for our Holiday Party, featuring Jazz Classical Pianist, Mark Maxwell, hot specialty drinks and a Christmasthemed photo booth. Come ring in the New Year at Hotel Indigo-Athens for only $199 on New Year’s Eve, includes onenight stay, two tickets to the “Sensational Sounds of Motown,” Champagne Toast at midnight and breakfast from The Madison Bar and Bistro. Call 706-546-0430 to book today!

Recreation Athens Vertical Pole Dance Academy

160 Tracy St., Suite 6A (inside Canopy), 706-347-3708 Athens Vertical Pole Dance Academy (AVPDA) is a local, woman-owned small business seeking to bring a new dance dynamic to the vertical pole and is a fitness opportunity for people of all ages and abilities. Dancing with the stability of the pole increases postural & back strength as well as flexibility and CONFIDENCE! The exaggerated movements allow our body to work in ways it normally doesn’t. Private holiday pole parties and workshops are available; next session of classes starts January 4th! www.avpda.com

BikeAthens

P.O. Box 344, 706-372-9529 Happy holidays from BikeAthens! We encourage you to relax a little by walking, biking or riding the bus to work or to your local shopping destination. Please support our programs by giving the gift of a year-long membership or a can of Jittery Joe’s “Alternative Fuel” coffee! BikeAthens advocates for safe and accessible transportation options in Athens. Email admin@ bikeathens.com for more info or connect with us via Facebook, Twitter (@BikeAthens) or the web at www.bikeathens.com.

Impress your boss with full-color Custom invitations training manuals. for your perfect party.

163 E. Broad Street Downtown Athens

163 E. Broad Street Downtown Athens

706-548-3648 www.bel-jean.com

706-548-3648 www.bel-jean.com

’s

2 Week Issue

DEADLINES: Advertise in our 1st annual

SlackPole (Dec. 29 + Jan. 5 Issue)

* Display Ads Reservation: * NOON on Tuesday, Dec. 21 * Classifieds Ad Deadline: * 11am on Thursday, Dec. 23

k continued on next page

DECEMBER 15, 2010 · FLAGPOLE.COM

13

HOLIDAY GUIDE

Five Star Day Café

continued from p. 13

Ciné

234 W. Hancock Ave., 706-353-3343 CINÉ—downtown’s only arthouse cinema screens the latest independent and international films, documentaries, festival discoveries and classic movies. More than a movie theater, Ciné is a modern arts center, featuring an exhibit gallery by local visual artists and the versatile CinéLab space—great for events, parties and live performances. Ciné offers a variety of cocktails and treats, gift certificates and annual memberships, plus a Dinner + Movie combo package with neighboring restaurant, The National. More info and showtimes at www.athenscine.com.

2451 Jefferson Rd., 706-546-8090 Here at Ten Pins Tavern we take a unique look at having a good time. We think you should be able to come in, relax, bring friends or family, and have a great meal or a snack. Maybe even a cold brew or two. Entertain yourselves with pinball machines, video games and, of course, bowling. All while in the family-friendly confines of the best little bowling lounge in the South! Private party space available. www.tenpinstavern.com

George’s Lowcountry Table

2095 S. Milledge Ave., 706-548-3359 George’s Lowcountry Table is Athens’ newest dining destination. With a touch of Cajun and Creole as well as flavors from all over the South. We are serving the best dishes possible to

Mama’s Boy

197 Oak St., 706-548-6249 Bring the whole family to Mama’s Boy over the holidays! From our made-from-scratch biscuits and exciting breakfast dishes to our affordable lunch specials and homemade strawberry-lemonade for Mimosas, Mama’s Boy has become an Athens favorite.

Don’t forget to pick up a Mama’s Boy gift certificate, (new!) t-shirt, onesie or logo mug for the loved one on your shopping list! Also, contact us for all of your holiday catering needs!

A Tavola Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria 237 Prince Ave., 706-549-7520 Come in and enjoy our new winter menu, offering authentic Italian cuisine such as lobster ravioli and duck ragu. We are offering 20% off dinners Monday through Wednesday this Holiday season. We are also now open for lunch with $9.99 combos to include soup, salad, soft drink and an entrée of choice. Let us provide the perfect setting for all your holiday gatherings. Gift certificates available.

Speakeasy

269 E. Broad St. (upstairs), 706-546-5556 Located in downtown Athens, Speakeasy sits upstairs on historic East Broad Street. Overlooking the beautiful campus of UGA, Speakeasy offers delicious southern-inspired tapas, specialty cocktails and delectable desserts made for an evening of sharing among friends. With the holidays around the corner and our newly improved catering menu, Speakeasy is perfect for all of your catering needs and special events. Visit www.speakeasyathens.com for more information.

Big City Bread Cafe

393 N. Finley St., 706-353-0029 Stop by Big City Bread Cafe to stock up on lastminute gifts! We’ve got coffee by the pound, t-shirts, cookie tins and lots of fresh-baked, made-fromscratch treats. Or bring the family in for a meal in our cozy dining room. We are serving breakfast, lunch and dinner and serve beer and wine. We will close at 3 p.m. on Christmas Eve and be closed Christmas Day. Happy Holidays!

Taste of India

our guests. Come by and try the shrimp and grits or perhaps a casual cocktail. The private dining room can hold up to 40 people for that special occasion. Now accepting reservations for New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day Brunch. Gift certificates available. www.georgeslowcountrytable.net

131 E. Broad St., 706-559-0000 Athens’ only Indian fine-dining cuisine, located across from the Arch. Head chef Ashok Kumar, with over 20 years of experience, offers a daily lunch buffet and an à la carte menu. We offer a richly varied menu of fresh, natural ingredients, wholesome sauces and flavorful spices. All of our food is natural and freshly prepared daily on premises with no additives or preservatives. We will be open Christmas Eve and day and New Year’s Eve and day (reservations suggested). Happy Holidays!!

Gnat’s Landing

Transmetropolitan

The Grit

White Tiger Gourmet Food & Chocolates

Cali N Tito’s

Clocked!

259 W. Washington St., 706-548-9175 Save some money, BYOB! Bring your family and friends in for the best burger in town… and NOW the best breakfast!

Breakfast served every day 8–11 a.m. (gotta try the Corned Beef Hash!), also, yummy milkshakes with out-of-this-world flavors and, of course, tater totz with house-made cheese sauce. Don’t forget, we’re open late nite Friday and Saturday ‘til 4 a.m! Newly designed t-shirts in aqua blue and gift certificates always available.

Farm 255

255 W. Washington St., 706-549-4660 Come celebrate seasonally with sustainably sourced food from our own local farms, live music and our signature wintertime cocktails. Our Loyal Farmer membership is a perfect gift for Farm-lovers. Prix fixe & à la carte menus for Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, supper served 5:30–10.30 p.m. And don’t miss Athens’ best New Year’s Eve celebration, this year’s party hosted by Quiet Hooves! For reservations, email reservations@ farm255.com. Twitter, Facebook, or www.farm255.com.

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FLAGPOLE.COM ∙ DECEMBER 15, 2010

2301 College Station Rd., 706-546-5662 Do you need a fresh sushi fix right away? Do you want a good late-night meal? Come to Inoko Sushi Express next to Kroger on the Eastside. We offer everything from Japanese hibachi to exotic maki sushi rolls to satisfy your cravings. Open lunch and dinner every day, open late (‘til 3 a.m.) Thursday through Saturday. Warm and tasty Japanese onion soup and miso soup is awaiting your “Ahhhhhh!” www.inokosushiexpress. com

232 W. Hancock Ave., 706-549-3450 Visit The National this holiday season for festive food and drinks. We are a great venue for an office party, a business lunch, romantic evening or special family gathering, including Christmas Eve. The chef’s blog on our website, www.thenationalrestaurant.com, will keep you updated with special events and new menu items.

Restaurants

1427 S. Lumpkin St., 706-227-9979 Happy Holidays and Feliz Navidad from Cali-NTitos! Stop in this winter for a free cup of coffee or hot chocolate with your order. We offer the best empanadas, tacos, burritos, tamales, shakes and more! Come “Enjoy Our Latin Thing” this holiday season!

Inoko Sushi Express

The National

Carlo Nasisse

Ten Pins Tavern

229 E. Broad St., 706-543-8552 Bring home your favorite Five Star dish for the holidays.

From collards and black-eyed peas for your New Year’s Day, to sweet potatoes, mac and cheese and squash casserole to round out your holiday dinner—we have it all. We are available for Holiday Parties and Catering. Gift certificates available for friends and family. Happy Holidays!

Cookbook is a perennial stocking-stuffing favorite, along with gift certificates, t-shirts, Jittery Joe’s Grit Blend coffee and Grit Granola. Now serving breakfast!

1080 Baxter St., 706-850-5858 Gnat’s Landing, located at 1080 Baxter St., “GNAThens,” GA. Born in St. Simons, our unique Coastal Cuisine menu is a fit for anyone’s taste buds and our Beach Casual Food & Attitude is just what you need during this silly season. Reserve our back room for a private party or have us cater your event. Don’t forget, gift cards make a lovely gift! Stop by for details. We will be closed 12/25. Follow us on Facebook/Twitter. www. gnatslanding.net

199 Prince Ave., 706-543-6592 Out and about this holiday season? Gonna shop ‘til you drop? Drop by The Grit, the toast of Athenian vegetarian cuisine. Located on Prince Avenue since 1991, The Grit offers delectable, down-home favorites, international specialties, and fabulous homemade desserts. We’ve got something for everyone—even carnivores love us! Still shopping? Our Grit

145 E. Clayton St., 706-613-8773 1550 Oglethorpe Ave., 706-549-5112 Visit both of our locations throughout the holidays for daily lasagna specials, pizzas, pastas, calzones, panini and salads. Try our Chicken Parmesan over linguini with pomodoro.

Transmetropolitan gift certificates make the perfect gift for everyone on your list! Call us now to reserve our upstairs room at our downtown location for your Holiday Party. Happy Holidays!

217 Hiawasee Ave., 706-353-6847 Stop by White Tiger this holiday season for a purrfect warm meal and some chocolates! We do full holiday catering including smoked turkeys and all the fixin’s. Call by Wednesday, Dec. 22nd to place your order. Fresh chocolates packaged up to go make great gifts! We’ll be closed the week after Christmas, can’t wait to see you in the new year!

Grocery Store

Cillies Clothing

Daily Groceries Co-op

523 Prince Ave., 706-548-1732 Daily Groceries is a community owned and operated cooperative that specializes in local and organic produce, food and personal-care products. A community fixture for 18 years, we are located on the edges of the Cobbham and Boulevard neighborhoods, less than a half mile from downtown. Open daily until 10 p.m. & open to the public. Join us today to become an investor member for 2011 and get the month of December 2010 free! Visit us at 523 Prince Ave. or online at www.dailygroceries.org.

Retail Aurum Studios

125 E. Clayton St., 706-546-8826 Celebrating its 35th Anniversary, Aurum has a fabulous selection of platinum, gold and silver jewelry, diamonds, pearls, stunning color and cool beads. Original designs, custom work and repairs are available from six in-house goldsmiths. The Aurum gallery of American crafts features pottery, glass, wood and paintings by talented regional artists—even Christmas ornaments! Let Aurum’s friendly staff help you find all the gifts you need. Layaway, all charge cards and free giftwrapping.

Blockader Homebrew Supply

855 W. Broad St., 706-548-5035 Blockader Homebrew Supply has been serving Athens and the surrounding area for over 6 years now, guiding and supplying brewers, winemakers and everyone else with a passion for all things fermented. Though we specialize in beer brewing, we have the knowledge, equipment, ingredients and general supplies to aid anyone in their quest for a better beverage, whatever it may be. Stop in today or visit our website www. blockaderhomebrewsupply.com.

175 E. Clayton St., 706-369-7418 Come on in to CILLIES clothing for that PERFECT gift, from a hilarious tacky Christmas sweater for that holiday party or get that gorgeous vintage Chanel or Louis Vuitton bag you’ve been wanting! CILLIES has layaway and gift certificates for everyone on your list! C-ash $$$ from selling your clothes.

I-mpulse purchasing (one for Mom, one for me). L-ayaway and Gift Certificates. L-uxury at affordable prices. I-nsanely HOT holiday dresses. E-nvironmental LOVE. S-anta shops here!!

Dog Ear Books

162 W. Clayton St., 706-224-4580 Dog Ear Books is a local, independent bookstore recently relocated to 162 W. Clayton St. (three doors up from Last Resort Grill). Find the perfect gift for every reader on your list in our stock of new and used titles and in our children’s section. New releases are always 20% off, and if it’s not in stock, we will be taking special orders in time for Christmas as late as Dec. 23rd.

Dynamite Clothing

143 N. Jackson St., 706-543-1243 This holiday season, along with our spectacular selection of men’s and women’s vintage, recycled and new clothing, we are now offering a wide variety of amazing hats, scarves, gloves and festive holiday wear. Create one-of-a-kind looks for yourself with our huge selection of items from vintage t-shirts, hoodies and western shirts to sunglasses, dresses, jewelry and more. American Apparel available here! Open daily, 12:30–6 p.m. We recycle.

Five Points Bottle Shop

1655 S. Lumpkin St., 706-543-6989 3685 Atlanta Hwy., 706-316-2337 This holiday season Five Points Bottle is stocking the shelves so you can stuff your stocking! Beer and liquor gift sets make wonderful presents and are available in all shapes and sizes. Come browse our huge inventory of seasonal brews just waiting for that beer-lover on your list. We’ll help you

Pick Up

select the ideal wine to give your favorite connoisseur. Did we mention everyone’s favorite stocking stuffer? Five Points Bottle Gift Certificates! Remember, No Fake IDs, No Crybabies!

Flora Hydroponics

195 Paradise Blvd., 706-353-2223 Looking for a great gift for an avid gardener? We got it!

Come visit Athens’ leading indoor gardening supplier. We have helped growers worldwide since 2006. As the temperature cools down, we offer all of the items you need to bring your garden indoors. Whether it’s lights, fertilizers or gardening accessories you are looking for, Flora has the items you need! We offer unique gift items such as Grobals, Earth Boxes and Hobby Greenhouses! Happy Holidays!

Frontier

193 E. Clayton St., 706-369-8079 Frontier has served the downtown Athens community for over 20 years as a shopping destination for local, Fair Trade and eco-friendly gifts. One customer explains, “Frontier is a rare gem. Far from the mindless stuff found in most stores, Frontier’s items are truly interesting, and it’s easy to find the perfect gift.” Come see what’s in-store for you this season at Frontier! Call 706-369-8079, visit www.frontierathens.com or follow us on Facebook for more information.

Half-Moon Outfitters

1225 S. Milledge Ave., 706-548-7225 Half-Moon Outfitters offers great customer service for getting you ready for your next adventure. Half-Moon features quality gear for adventure and travel by Patagonia, The North Face, Arc’Teryx, Mountain Hardwear, Petzl and more. Open daily for your shopping convenience. Gift certificates available.

Helix

146 E. Clayton St., 706-354-8631 Have a peaceful, enjoyable shopping experience at Helix this holiday season! Choose from our large selection of stylish k continued on next page

’s

1st Annual We Have Your

Lowcountry Favorites

Carolina Crabcakes • Georgia Pork BBQ Florida Key Lime Pie Charleston Shrimp & Grits

Now taking

New Year’s Eve & New Year’s Day Brunch Reservations

Saturday & Sunday • 11am-3pm

ample parking available

% OFF 10Tattoo or Body Piercing

www.americanclassictattoo.net

1035A Baxter St. 706-543-7628

SlackPole featuring

Reader Submitted

Fiction, Non-Fiction, Photos, Comics, Advice... also includes

2 Mimosas 3 Bloody Marys

Crosswords, Games, Puzzles and More!

Sundays - All Day

plus

Champagne Brunch $

$

Lowcountry BOIL Open at 4pm Mon-Fri Open at 11am Sat & Sun - By the Loop -

2095 S. Milledge Ave.

706-548-3359

2 Weeks of Movies & Calendar Events

On the Street from 12/29-1/11 DECEMBER 15, 2010 · FLAGPOLE.COM

15

continued from p. 15

and artistic jewelry, housewares and stationery. For your child, fresh playful prints in clothes from Zutano and quality wooden toys. Deck your halls with original work by local artists. Bill Campbell’s pottery will thrill anyone on your list! With complimentary gift wrap and friendly service, Helix has everything you need to fill your holidays with cheer!

Call us for your

Holiday Party and Catering Needs!

New catering menu available at

www.speakeasyathens.com We are able to accommodate up to 50 guests for in-house parties.

Delivery available.

10% Off

Entire Catering Order or Free Delivery* * for first time orders

269 E. BROAD ST. • UPSTAIRS • 706-546-5556 speakeasyathens.com

DBT Adolescent Treatment Study

Junkman’s Daughter’s Brother

458 E. Clayton St., 706-543-4454 ‘Twas the day before Xmas/ the shoppers were manic/ Junkman’s is open, no need to panic/ We have earrings and lanterns/ jigsaws and t-shirts/ key chains and vases, handbags and short skirts/ comics and stickers, incense and bangles/ cool shoes and jackets, stuffed toys and candles/ Everything you would need for your special elf/ We make it so easy, there’s time to shop for yourself.

The Loft Art Supply

1035 Baxter St., 706-548-5334 Who doesn’t love art supplies?! We have inspiration for everyone on your list—from the novice to the connoisseur—including decorative papers, watercolor sets, easels, sketchbooks, calligraphy pens and tons more.

Need help customizing a gift? We can help! Have a friend with a vision? We have gift certificates! We can even help you get that paintbrush you’ve always wanted! The Loft— where artists have served artists for over 30 years.

gift giving and entertaining needs. From selecting a wine to complement your meal, to figuring out how many kegs you’ll need for your party, Perry’s full-service store can help. Browse our large selection of wine and liquor gift sets to pick the present everyone appreciates. Have a Perry’s Christmas and a Happy New Year!

R.wood Studio Ceramics

450 Georgia Dr., 706-613-8525 Shop Local! Give Handmade! R.wood Studio Ceramics has been hand-crafting pottery for 20 years. We are located in a rustic warehouse, just east of downtown. Our pieces make great gifts and share a slice of southern beauty. Our gift suggestions start with our large everything bowl or you’ll be sure to find the perfect gift in our one-of-a-kind section filled with thousands of handmade pieces. www.rwoodstudio.com

Skate Shop of Athens

50 Gaines School Rd., 706-543-6368 Skater-owned and operated, we ride what we sell! Fully stocked with professional skateboards from Element, Plan B, Flip, Creature, Baker and more, safety equipment, accesCarlo Nasisse

HOLIDAY GUIDE

Masada Leather and Outdoor

238 E. Clayton St., 706-546-5014 In February 1975, a small leather shop was founded in downtown Athens with the idea of creating quality, handcrafted leather work at a reasonable price. Now, over three decades later, MASADA has built a reputation as the state’s leader in fine leather accessories, comfort and hiking footwear, and outdoor apparel. We sincerely hope that you’ll visit our unique shop while you’re here and enjoy the rustic charm and Old-World atmosphere of an Athens landmark.

Musician’s Warehouse Showcase

150 Crane Dr., 706-548-7233 Wondering how to satisfy that musician in your life?

Looking for the perfect gift to make your estranged son/ daughter talk to you again? Want to keep your neighbors up at night? Musician’s Warehouse has what you’re looking for! With the largest selection and best prices around we can satisfy all your musical needs for any sized budget.

Gift Certificates available. Behind the Racetrack next to Best Buy. Open every day until Christmas.

Native America Gallery

195 E. Clayton St., 706-543-8425 Native America Gallery is all decked out for the holidays and has something special for everyone on your list.

An amazing selection of sterling-silver jewelry embellished with turquoise, opal, gemstones or real flowers! Affordable Fashion Jewelry, HUNDREDS OF MINNETONKA MOCCASINS, a Zillion Scarves, Zuni Fetish Carvings, Holiday Ornaments—FREE gift wrap, hot cider and treats while you shop. Open Daily ‘til 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights, Sunday 12–6 p.m.! Native America Gallery: “Where You’re One of the Tribe!”

PeachMac

1850 Epps Bridge Pkwy., 706-208-9990 PeachMac is your source for all things Apple this holiday season. We have a huge selection of iPads, iPods, Macs & MacBooks as well as tons of accessories and software for almost every use. Be sure to check our web site at peachmac. com for our “Holiday Bundle” discounts on iPads and Macs—as well as other special offers this holiday season. Everyone loves shopping at Peachmac!

Perry’s Convenience & Liquors

265 North Ave., 706-543-0005 4388 Lexington Rd., 706-583-4066 Want to simplify things this hectic holiday season? Let the knowledgeable staff at Perry’s Liquors assist you with all your

16

FLAGPOLE.COM ∙ DECEMBER 15, 2010

sories, footwear and clothing from Vans, Altamont, Etnies, Independent, Spitfire and Emerica. Conveniently located just one mile from the Skate Park of Athens. Open 7 days a week.

All major credit cards accepted.

Southern Waterbeds & Futons

3775 Atlanta Hwy., 706-543-4323 Same Local Owner Since 1975. Thanks for Buying in Athens.

Big Christmas and Year End Clearance Sale Through January 2011. Georgia Comforters from $49. Large Bean Bags from $49. Select Futons on Sale and Clearance Prices on Most Futon Covers. Memory Foam Mattresses Half Price! Basic Twin Platform Bed $219. Twin Bunkbed $329. Futon Bunkbeds with 8” Futon: Metal $395; Pine $549; Hardwood $899. Open 6 Days,10 a.m. till 7 p.m. Closed Sunday. Across from Georgia Square Mall. www.southernwaterbeds.com

Video Link

2026 S. Milledge Ave., 706-543-2288 VIDEO LINK is the LAST of the non-chain, locally owned independent video stores. ALL titles are for sale or rental.

VAGAxmas2010ad:Layout 1

VIDEO LINK carries ALL the new releases and TV shows, but specializes in hard to find classics, foreign and cult movies. We heavily discount. VIDEO LINK is located 1 mile southeast of 5 Points in the Shoppes of South of Athens (across from George’s Lowcountry Table). We will be closed Christmas but open New Year’s Day.

Services AAA Airport Express

www.aaaairportexpress.com, 800-354-7874 AAA Airport Express departs Athens and Atlanta 12 times daily. Our fare is $45 each way per person. There is a $5 off coupon in Flagpole and other publications in Athens. Please visit our website at www.aaaairportexpress.com or call us at 800-354-7874 or 404-767-2000 for more information and to make reservations. We can make your holiday travels merrier this year!

12/3/10

11:30 AM

Page 1

DECK theWALLS! ARTIST - MADE GREETING CARDS ORNAMENTS WREATHS CANDLES AND OTHER SEASONAL ITEMS

PHOTOGRAPHY WATERCOLORS OIL PAINTINGS FIBER ARTS POTTERY JEWELRY PRINTS FUSED & STAINED GLASS

Shop Frontier this Holiday Season.

The ladies on your list will love our extensive selection of bath soaps, lotions and candles!

Looking for something a little out of the ordinary?

GALLERY SHOP at Lyndon House Arts Center Visit the

Tuesday - Saturday, Noon - 5 p.m.

Lots of free parking!

American Classic Tattoo and Body Piercing

1035 Baxter St., 706-543-7628 We offer the gift that always fits. American Classic Tattoos and Body Piercing offering fine custom and classic tattoos to suit your needs. We offer gift certificates and a fine selection of body jewelry. Open Mondays–Saturdays, noon ‘til 10 p.m. www.americanclassictattoo.net

293 Hoyt Street, Athens GA 30601 706-613-3623 ext 224

Bel-Jean Copy/Print Center

163 E. Broad St., 706-548-3648 Personalized stationery and note cards make a great gift for the hard-to-shop-for people on your list! We can also create custom Christmas cards, party invitations and calendars. Come to us for your special Christmas projects. Bel-Jean is locally owned and as been part of the downtown Athens community for over 28 years! Stop by any time!

Bowling • Food • Spirits

Not Too Late for

Holiday Parties!

Midnight Iguana Tattoo

800 Oglethorpe Ave., 706-549-0190 Celebrating 20 Years in Business, Athens’ first professional Tattoo studio. We are Athens’ only complete full-service bodyart facility, offering all styles of body-art, daylight invisible UV tattoos, a full line of the finest quality body jewelry for all piercings, including dermal implants. Midnight Iguana is recognized worldwide, working in conjunction with its sister company, Micro-pigment Implantation Technologies, offering fast and easy tattoo removal, permanent make-up & our exclusive scar correction process. Teaching educational seminars worldwide, including Athens.

Pain and Wonder Tattoo

285 W. Washington St., 706-208-9588 This permanent artwork will be the gift that lasts forever.

Highest sterilization standards in the industry. Be pierced using implant-quality jewelry. Gift certificates available.

Artists include Chris Parry, Mike Groves, Graham Bradford and Miss Billie. Piercers include Bethra and Randy. Members National Tattoo Association. Piercers are proud members of the Association of Professional Piercers. www.painandwonder.com, www.virtueandvice.com

Project Safe, Inc.

www.project-safe.org, 706-549-0922 The holidays are all about giving, and at a time when every penny counts, it’s important to remember that even small donations make a big difference. At Project Safe’s emergency shelter, items like toilet paper, cleaning supplies, trash bags and women’s pajamas are always needed. Donations can be brought to the Project Safe Thrift Store, located at the corner of Hawthorne and Prince Avenue in the Bell’s Shopping center, Monday through Saturday 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

NOW OPEN EARLY! Come in starting at 1pm for the holiday break thru Jan. 3

Kid-Friendly Bowling

Private Room Available

OPEN LATE NIGHT FULL BAR 7 DAYS A WEEK! Mon-Thur 4pm-12am • Fri 3pm-2am Sat 12pm-2am • Sun 12pm-12am

2451 Jefferson Rd. 706-546-8090

TENPINSTAVERN.COM

AWESOME PUZZLES LOW-TECH FAMILY FUN!

FOR KIDS & ADULTS!

Downtown Athens / 706.369.8079 / frontierathens.com

DAVID W. GRIFFETH, Attorney

announces the relocation of his law office to Downtown in the Fred Building

220 College Ave. Ste. 612, Athens, Georgia

(706) 353-1360 (former location 957 Baxter St)

Admitted to the Bar of the United States Supreme Court since 1976* *And lesser courts

Specializing in Criminal: DUI, Drug Cases, Under-Age Possession and more.

Civil: Personal Injury, Wrongful Death, Criminal Defense, Credit Card/Debt Relief and more.

www.DavidWGriffeth.com

NO BATTERIES REQUIRED!

5

Year Anniversary!

5 Off

$

University of Georgia Independent and Distance Learning

www.georgiacenter.uga.edu/idl, 706-542-3243 Wishing you Happy Holidays! Try University of Georgia online classes via web-based e-correspondence. We have Credit Classes. Find one that will fit your schedule. Drop/Add is easy.

For more information or to register see our website or call 1-800-877-3243.

Come see what’s in-store for you!

Haircuts

JUNKMAN’S DAUGHTER’S BROTHER

December 15, 16 & 17 (with mention of this ad)

458 E. CLAYTON ST. • 706-543-4454 Mon-Sat 11-7 • Sun 12-6

DECEMBER 15, 2010 · FLAGPOLE.COM

17

movie dope Some releases may not be showing locally this week.

127 HOURS (R) Academy Award winner Danny Boyle’s newest film is based on the true story of mountain climber Aron Ralston (the increasingly interesting James Franco), who resorts to doing anything to survive after he is trapped under a boulder. For five days, he lies trapped before summoning the courage and will to scale a 65-foot wall and hike eight miles to be rescued.

Think Cast Away except James Franco a lot more desperate than Tom Hanks.

With Lizzy Caplan, Kate Mara, Amber Tamblyn and Treat Williams.

AFTERSHOCK (NR) This Chinese domestic smash (it is China’s highest grossing locally made film) chronicles the 1976 earthquake in Tangshan that claimed 240,000 lives. Director Xiaogang Feng has won several international awards, including one from the Venice Film Festival, for his features A Sign, A World Without Thieves, The Banquet and Assembly. Aftershock is the first major commercial IMAX film shot outside of the United States. The film is also the official Chinese admission for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

ALL GOOD THINGS (R) Capturing the Friedmans director Andrew Jarecki turns to fiction features with this murder mystery based on New York’s most notorious unsolved cases. A detective (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) investigates a missing persons case involving the heir to a real estate dynasty (Ryan Gosling) and a young woman from the wrong side of the tracks (Kirsten Dunst). Another late 2010, Ryan Gosling film vying for Oscar love. With Kristen Wiig, Frank Langella, Diane Venora and Philip Baker Hall.

ALPHA AND OMEGA (PG) Two young wolves at opposite ends of their pack’s social order find themselves in a foreign land. They must rely on each other in order to find their way home.

BLACK SWAN (R) I don’t know whether or not I’m going to like it, but I cannot wait for Black Swan, the new film from Darren Aronofsky (Pi, Requiem for a Dream, The Fountain, The Wrestler). A veteran ballerina, Nina (Natalie Portman), vies with a promising new dancer, Lily (Mila Kunis), for the lead role in Swan Lake but instead begins a twisted friendship with her competitor, a relationship that ultimately could destroy Nina. With

Vincent Cassel, Winona Ryder and Barbara Hershey.

BURLESQUE (PG-13) What Showgirls was to All About Eve, Burlesque is to Showgirls. Not nearly as awfully entertaining as Paul Verhoeven’s glitzy Vegas crassterpiece, Burlesque stars Cher as the proprietor of a struggling Sunset Strip burlesque club and Christian Aguilera as the dancing diva with a voice strong enough to save it. I’ll never understand why the filmmakers would have assembled the cast they did and then underuse Stanley Tucci and Alan Cumming so criminally.

CAIRO TIME (PG) 2009. Magazine editor Juliette (the criminally underrated Patricia Clarkson) is supposed to meet her husband, a U.N. official working in Gaza, for a getaway in Cairo. When the harried hubby cannot attend, he sends his friend and longtime security officer Tareq (Alexander Siddig). Against the romantic backdrop of Cairo, Juliette and Tareq fall in love.

Writer-director Ruba Nadda’s film won Best Canadian Feature Film at the Toronto International Film Festival as well as Best Picture from the Director’s Guild of Canada.

CASINO JACK (R) This docudrama recounts the rise and fall of superlobbyist Jack Abramoff (Kevin Spacey, who is sure to garner Oscar buzz) and his business partner, Michael Scanlon (Barry Pepper), who wheeled and dealed with Washington’s most powerful players. The uh-oh comes when a mob-connected associate (Jon Lovitz) brings everything crashing down in scandal. Alex Gibney released a documentary about Abramoff called Casino Jack and the United States of Money back in May. Directed by George Hickenlooper (Factory Girl).

THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE VOYAGE OF THE DAWN TREADER (PG) I would really rather not return to Narnia for The Silver Chair if that’s OK with you, Twentieth Century Fox. Fox’s first entry since snatching up the rights to the popular C.S. Lewis franchise after Walt Disney dropped it, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, hereby known as Narnia 3, continues the series’ downward spiral since the first entry, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Lucy and Edmund Pevensie

M OVIE L ISTI N GS Schedules often change after our deadline. Please call ahead.

ACC LIBRARY (706-613-3650) Welcome (NR) 7:00 (Th. 12/16)

CINÉ (706-353-3343)

Cairo Time (PG) 5:00, 7:15 (ends Th. 12/16) Conviction (R) 8:15 (ends Th. 12/16) Fair Game (PG-13) 7:30, 9:45 (starts F. 12/17) (add’l times Sa. 12/18 & Su. 12/19: 3:15) (no 9:45 show Su. 12/19) Feeders 2: Slay Bells (NR) 8:00 (W. 12/15) The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest (R) 5:15 (ends Th. 12/16) Monsters (R) 9:15 (new time F. 12/17: 9:30) (add’l times Sa. 12/18 & Su. 12/19: 3:00) (no 9:30 show Su. 12/19) My Dog Tulip (NR) 5:30 (starts F. 12/17) Tamara Drewe (R) 5:00, 7:15 (starts F. 12/17)

Accurate movie times for the Carmike 12 (706-354-0016), Beechwood Stadium 11 (706-546-1011) and Georgia Square 5 (706-548-3426) cinemas are not available by press time. Visit www.flagpole.com for updated times.

18

FLAGPOLE.COM ∙ DECEMBER 15, 2010

(Georgie Henley and Skandar Keynes) escape WWII England for Narnia, sans older siblings Peter and Susan, and again join forces with Prince Caspian (Ben Barnes). Nothing really works in the tedious Narnia 3, which makes this magical kingdom the least interesting fantasy world I’ve visited in some time (maybe since Eragon).

CLIENT 9: THE RISE AND FALL OF ELIOT SPITZER (R) Academy Award winning documentarian Alex Gibney (he won the Oscar for Taxi to the Dark Side but also helmed Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room, Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson, and Casino Jack and the United States of Money) charts the rise and fall of former New York Governor and present CNN anchor Eliot Spitzer.

Featuring interviews with the scandalrocked former politico, Client 9’s poster claims to tell “the real story.”

THE COMPANY MEN (R) TV megaproducer John Wells (“ER,” “The West Wing”) makes his feature film debut with this timely drama. Three men— Bobby Walker, Gene McClary and Phil Woodward (Oscar winners Ben Affleck, Chris Cooper and Tommy Lee Jones)—deal with losing their jobs in the present recession and the effects on their wives, lives and communities.

Talk about a cast. Besides the three stars, Kevin Costner, Craig T. Nelson, Maria Bello and Rosemarie Dewitt are also Company Men. CONVICTION (R) Single mother Betty Anne Waters (two-time Academy Award winner Hilary Swank) puts herself through law school in order to get her brother’s (Sam Rockwell) wrongful conviction for murder overturned. It’s hard to tell from the trailer whether or not this inspirational, based on a true story drama—starring one multiple Oscar winner and several Oscar nominees (Juliette Lewis, Minnie Driver, and Melissa Leo)—has award potential. With Ari Graynor, Clea DuVall and Peter Gallagher. Directed by Tony Goldwyn (the bad guy from Ghost who now directs).

DUE DATE (R) After the big-time breakthrough of The Hangover, director Todd Phillips (Road Trip) returns with this comedy about a soon-to-be father, Peter Highman (Robert Downey, Jr.), who must hitch a ride with aspiring actor, Ethan Tremblay (Zack Galifinakias), if he wants to make it to his child’s birth on time. Something feels off in the trailer for this seemingly funny comedy. With Michelle Monaghan, Juliette Lewis, Danny McBride, Jamie Foxx, RZA and Alan Arkin.

EASY A (PG-13) This second movie from director Will Gluck and first-time feature writer Bert V. Royal accomplishes a rare feat for teen-aimed funny flicks. It starts with a fun concept that it treats respectfully and with genuine humor in a tightly written script good enough to attract a talented cast that includes Emma Stone, Stanley Tucci, Patricia Clarkson, Thomas Haden Church, Lisa Kudrow and Malcolm McDowell.

FAIR GAME (PG-13) Doug Liman (The Bourne Identity) directs this drama based on the government’s outing of CIA Operative Valerie Plame. Naomi Watts stars as Plame, whose identity was leaked while investigating WMDs in Iraq after her husband, Joseph Wilson (Sean Penn), wrote a 2003 New

York Times op-ed piece critical of the Bush administration. With Ty Burrell (so funny on “Modern Family”), Bruce McGill (you’ll know him when you see him), Sam Shepard and Brooke Smith (the awesome reality TV satire Series 7: The Contenders).

FEEDERS 2: SLAY BELLS (NR) 1998. Ciné continues its Bad Movie Night tradition with a holiday entry, Feeders 2: Slay Bells. (Did anyone see the first Feeders? Did anyone know that an original Feeders existed? It does and actually sounds worse than its sequel.)

When aliens invade planet Earth, it’s up to Santa Claus and his elves to save the world. First, it was Santa Claus Conquers the Martians. No Jolly Old Saint Nicholas has to face off against a horde of papier-mâché aliens with only a plastic ray gun to defend us all.

THE FIGHTER (R) Mark Wahlberg stars as boxer “Irish” Micky Ward, whose brother, Dick Eklund (Christian Bale), helped him train before going pro in the 1980s. Seeking to rehab his image after that awful I Heart Huckabees footage went viral a few years back. David O. Russell took over this project that Darren Aronofsky was prepping prior to The Wrestler. I wonder how welcoming the set was, with the combination of notorious hotheads Russell and Bale. With Amy Adams and Melissa Leo. THE GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNET’S NEST (R)The cinematic tale of Lisbeth Salander (Noomi Rapace) concludes with this adaptation of Stieg Larsson’s third and final novel.

Trapped in the hospital, recovering from life-threatening injuries, Lisbeth and her allies, including Mikael Blomkvist (Michael Nyqvist), must outwit a secret section of the Swedish government that just wants her dead.

The Girl Who Played with Fire director Daniel Alfredson returns. With an English-language adaptation of the first novel on the way, will an American audience exist for the Swedish climax?

HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART 1 (PG-13) As much as I still cherish this series of books, I just have never been as invested in the film versions.

That lack of true, heartfelt engagement has never shown as brightly as it does now, as the end we all know by heart approaches. I cannot find fault with this flawless penultimate installment of the stalwart franchise. The three young leads have matured tremendously as actors; Emma Watson has improved vastly since the game-changing third film. Director David Yates continues to bring Rowling’s magical world to rousing, tangible life. The landscapes of the hopeless, doomed, lonely HP7.1 resembled a post-apocalypse and conjured up the highest possible praise; it reminded me of Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings and The Empire Strikes Back.

HOW DO YOU KNOW (PG-13) An aging (27?!) athlete Lisa Jorgenson (Reese Witherspoon) starts feeling her age and winds up getting involved in a love triangle with her baseball player boyfriend (Owen Wilson) and a crisisridden corporate guy (Paul Rudd).

I’m a big fan of Oscar-winning writerdirector James L. Brooks (Terms of Endearment, Broadcast News, As Good As It Gets), who hopefully will get back on track after the pretty blah Spanglish.

With Brooks regular Jack Nicholson as Rudd’s dad.

I LOVE YOU PHILLIP MORRIS (R) Scam artist and former police officer Steven Russell (Jim Carrey) plots the big con to escape his second stint in prison and win the heart and freedom of Phillip Morris (Ewan McGregor).

Bad Santa scripters Glenn Ficarra and John Requa make their directorial debut with this adaptation of a true story; their comedic presence alone piques my curiosity. Carrey against type just increases my interest. With Leslie Mann and Rodrigo Santoro (Raul Castro in both parts of Steven Soderbergh’s epic Che).

JACK GOES BOATING (R) In Philip Seymour Hoffman’s directorial debut, the Academy Award winner goes with something comfortable. He developed and starred in an Off-Broadway production of the Bob Glaudino play.

Limo driver Jack (Hoffman) goes on a blind date with Dr. Bob’s Funeral Home employee Connie (Amy Ryan), while the relationship of another working class couple, Clyde and Lucy (John Ortiz and Daphne Rubin-Vega), hits a rough patch. Hoffman, Ortiz and RubinVega all reprise their roles from the stage production THE KING’S SPEECH (R) To combat a nervous stammer, King George VI (Colin Firth), AKA Bertie, works with an unorthodox speech therapist, Lionel Logue (Oscar winner Geoffrey Rush).

Director Tom Hooper helmed HBO’s excellent “John Adams” and Elizabeth I. This historical picture is shaping up to be Firth’s best Oscar shot yet; the trailer predicts a winner. With Helena Bonham Carter as George’s daughter Queen Elizabeth II, Guy Pearce as Edward VIII, Michael Gambon as King George V and Timothy Spall as Winston Churchill.

LEGEND OF THE GUARDIANS: THE OWLS OF GA’HOOLE (PG) Unfortunately, the film, based on the first three books in Kathryn Lasky’s bestselling children’s series (I made it through one and almost a half of the short books), feels rushed and poorly explained. Having attempted to read the books and seen the movie, I wonder whether or not it is Lasky’s fault, not the filmmakers, that this fantasy universe lacks the crucial elements to make it engrossing and unforgettable.

LOVE AND OTHER DRUGS (R) The raunchy romdramedy Love and Other Drugs delivers on its titillating promise to show loads of Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway naked and banging.

Other stuff happens, but one’s desire to watch writer-director Edward Zwick’s first romance since 1986’s About Last Night… really boils down to how much you want to see these two stars in the buff. Based on Jamie Reidy’s memoir, Hard Sell: The Evolution of a Viagra Salesman.

MADE IN DAGENHAM (R) Sounds like another satisfying Britcom. In 1968, the female workers at the Ford Dagenham car plant went on strike to protest sexual discrimination. The swell cast includes Sally Hawkins, who probably will not get her first Oscar nomination for this (she should have gotten one for Happy-Go-Lucky) and Bob Hoskins. Director Nigel Cole also helmed A Lot Like Love, Calendar Girls and Saving Grace. Word is good on the script by TV writer William Ivory.

MEGAMIND (PG) Megamind wittily tweaks the superhero genre with enough ingenuity and crafty celebrity voice-work to save a parent’s weekend

trip to the movies. Dreamworks’ Megamind could not stand up to the real costumed heroes like Pixar’s The Incredibles, but the superhero satire would make a capable animated sidekick.

MONSTERS (R) See Movie Pick.

MORNING GLORY (PG-13) Fortunately, watching a movie about morning talk shows is a lot less painful than actually watching “Good Morning, Early Today Show!” Small-time producer Becky Fuller (Rachel McAdams) gets her shot at the big-time when IBS’s fourth-place “Daybreak” comes to call.

Morning Glory reaps the old-fashioned benefits of casting movie stars like zestful beauty McAdams or gruff audience fave Ford and letting them do their charismatic thing.

MY DOG TULIP (NR) This lovely looking animated movie for adults tells the story of a man and his affection for the German shepherd he rescues.

Christopher Plummer lends his gravelly, dynamic voice to Tulip’s owner, British author J.R. Ackerley, who published an account of his 16-year relationship with Queenie (renamed Tulip for the book). The hand drawn animation from Paul and Sandra Fierlinger looks beautifully old-fashioned.

NIGHT CATCHES US (R) In 1976, Marcus (Anthony Mackie) returns to the Philly neighborhood he once called home. Though some old friends, Patricia (Kerry Washington), greet Marcus warmly, others suspect him of being before behind the slaying of a compatriot in the Black Power Movement. Night Catches Us is the feature debut of writer-director Tanya Hamilton and features a score by The Roots. The film was hailed as one of the best at Sundance, where it was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize.

RARE EXPORTS: A CHRISTMAS TALE (NR) Bless my horror heart, this flick sounds awesome. Santa Claus is unearthed at an archaeological dig in Lapland’s Korvatunturi Mountains. But judging by the disappearing children, this jolly old Nicholas is no saint, leading a man, his son and a posse of hunters to go on a Santa hunt. Watch out for Santa’s elves. They won’t let their leader go quietly into the night.

Finnish filmmaker Jalmari Helander’s holiday entry in his Rare Exports series could be Christmas 2010’s hot gift for horror lovers.

RESIDENT EVIL: AFTERLIFE (R) With such a rich source of story, one would think this entire series could be better, but Anderson has manufactured his own paler RE universe by cherrypicking various concepts and characters.

RE:A may be the worst yet.

TAMARA DREWE (R) A young newspaper writer (blockbuster princess Gemma Arterton, Quantum of Solace, Clash of the Titans, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time), who used to be what one would call an ugly duckling, returns to her hometown as her childhood home goes up for sale. Two-time Oscar nominee Stephen Frears (The Grifters and The Queen) directs Moira Buffini’s adaptation of Posy Simmond’s graphic novel retelling of Thomas Hardy’s Far from the Madding Crowd.

With Dominic Cooper (Mamma Mia!).

TANGLED (PG) Disney’s 50th animated feature entertains like some of the best the House of Mouse has ever offered. Can you imagine how magical this fairy tale could have been had it been traditionally animated and simply titled Rapunzel? None of the songs may be destined for Disney classic status, but the warm family humor and romance will please anyone longing for a new Disney dream to come true.

THE TEMPEST (PG-13) Julie Taymor, more acclaimed for Broadway’s The Lion King than any of her film work (Across the Universe) adapts more Shakespeare (she previously filmed a version of Titus). Prospero is now

★★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Serving Tasty Cocktails for over Ten Years

Friday, December 17

Holiday Bash

Come Dressed to Impress!

with

The Wedding Band and Immuzikation

NYE Throwdown with DJ Murphsauce and DJ Alfredo

Only Automated Dance Floor in Town 283 Broad St • Downtown

Drew Wheeler

movie pick

MOVING SALE!

Friendliest Bar in Athens!

FRI, DEC. 17:

NAUGHTY OR NICE CHRISTMAS PARTY

ALIBI

NEVER A COVER ALWAYS SECURITY FREE PARKING

Mumblecore in Space MONSTERS (R) Monsters is easily the most impressive cinematic achievement of the year.

British filmmaker Gareth Edwards has outdone scores of lesser moviemakers on a 20th—hell, 40th—of the budget. He has carved a solid genre effort from mumblecore (super lowbudget, improvised script, amateur performers and a narrative focus on personal relationships) without sacrificing the essence of that American independent-film movement or science fiction. Monsters is also the first film of more than a hundred I saw in 2010 that I will see twice before it hits DVD. That’s a nice roll call of achievements for a movie that cost under $500,000 and whose effects were finished in writer-director Edwards’ bedroom.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★★

WELCOME (NR) 2009. Writerdirector Philippe Lioret tells the story of 17-year-old Bilal (Firat Ayverdi), a Kurdish refugee seeking to reunite with his girlfriend in England. Unfortunately, once he reaches the French coastal city of Calais, he cannot find a way to cross the 32-kilometer English Channel. But the young man won’t let that stop him.

YOGI BEAR (PG) After the success of Alvin and the Chipmunks (and its sequel), you had to expect a beloved Hanna-Barbera character like Yogi wouldn’t be far behind. A documentary filmmaker (v. Anna Faris) travels to Jellystone National Park and runs into notorious pick-a-nick basket thief Yogi (v. Dan Ackroyd) and his sidekick, Boo-Boo (v. Justin Timberlake).

Judging from the trailers, Ackroyd and JT ably ape the classic Yogi and BooBoo voices; so why does this feel so depressingly bankrupt?

YOU AGAIN (PG) Marni (Kristen Bell) realizes her brother is about to marry the bully (Odette Yustman) that tormented her throughout high school.

Now it is her job to expose her enemy’s true colors before they become family.

You have to love Bell’s support: Jamie Lee Curtis and eternally funny golden girls, Cloris Leachman and Betty White.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★★

and tremendous direction from Affleck highlight the best film Hollywood has offered to mature adults in months.

TRON: LEGACY (PG) Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund) receives a signal from his dad Kevin’s (Jeff Bridges) old arcade. Soon Sam is trapped in the same computer-generated universe created 20 years earlier by his father, where the father and son must team up with warrior Quorra (Olivia Wilde, “House”). Against my better judgment, I am pretty psyched for this 3D extravaganza.

UNSTOPPABLE (PG-13) Loosely based on the true story, Unstoppable stars Denzel Washington and Star Trek’s Chris Pine as the only two men who can stop a runaway train terrorizing the Pennsylvania countryside. All aboard this dramatic thriller.

THE WARRIOR’S WAY (R) This Samurai Western mashup bests all comers for the year’s best cult genre movie. In Jang Dong-Gun’s English language coming out party, the South Korean superstar revives the hero of the spaghetti Western as a taciturn Eastwood with no name (named Yang), an assassin in hiding after refusing to complete his last mission. I would love to see more cultish fare dreamed up by the first-time filmmaker. This is as smart and sharp as his hero’s sword.

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a female alchemist named Prospera (Helen Mirren). Banished to an island for witchcraft, she raises her daughter, Miranda (Felicity Jones), and struggles for power with Caliban (Djimon Hounsou). If all else fails, The Tempest should be another dominating visual effort from the always interesting mind of Taymor.

THE TOURIST (PG-13) Seeing this Angelina Jolie-Johnny Depp team-up may be cheaper than a trip to Venice, but anyone wishing to float the canals of that old Italian city would be advised to wait for discount fares. A math teacher from Wisconsin, Frank Tupelo (Depp), gets involved in international espionage after being chatted up by a beautiful Brit, Elise Ward (Jolie). Soon, Frank is running across rooftops from Russian hitmen and butting heads with a determined detective from Scotland Yard (Paul Bettany). How’s a Wisconsin schoolteacher to survive? Your disbelief better have a suspend function that will last two hours if you expect to get through this unthrilling hokum, sadly cooked up by two exceptional, Oscarwinning screenwriters.

THE TOWN (R) Ben Affleck’s second directorial effort (this one based off a tough Bostonian novel by Chuck Hogan rather than Dennis Lehane) is a very good film. Terrific performances

Despite his creature-feature title, Edwards favors the mumble over the monsters. After an action-packed opening sequence, the film settles into a languid period of character development as we learn more is troubling Andrew and Samantha than mere mutants, and that their mutual feelings grow out of a tangible reality rather than a plot-driven necessity.

Due to its genre accessibility, Monsters is a good mumblecore trainer. Sci-fi fans expecting an explosive monster-a-minute thriller will be disappointed initially, but the climactic payoff is worth the deliberate trek to get there. The results mean more, thanks to the depth of the characterizations by Edwards and his main actors (also a real-life couple). When Edwards

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Whitney Able and Scoot McNairy Set in an alternate reality where alien life forms have invaded and mutated the animal population of a quarantined Mexico, reporter Andrew (Scoot McNairy) is tasked with escorting his boss’ daughter, Samantha (Whitney Able), back to the United States. When their passports are stolen, Andrew and Whitney must risk traveling over land during the migration period of los monstruos.

unleashes his monstrous creations, finalized on his personal computer, the only disappointment is that he did not have a big enough budget to make more of them. Somebody give this man a real, multimillion-dollar budget and let him loose. If Monsters is any indication, the result will not dissatisfy.

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19

Local residents in amazement yesterday as Collectors provide a stimulus package to Athens!

They are paying on the spot for my stuff. Unbelievable!!

By DAVID MORGAN STAFF WRITER

Spokesperson for the event said he expects to spend in excess of $200,000.00 this week for vintage items and precious metals from local residents. Here are some examples of what is going on in the event that started Tuesday in the Courtyard by Marriott.

One person sold an old Gibson guitar that was purchased in the 1960’s for less than $250.00 to a collector at the event for $2175.00 Another person had a pocket watch collection that sold for $4600.00., with one of the watches in this collection bringing $375.00 of the $4600.00 talley.

A husband and wife brought in a box of old Jewelry, wristwatches, coins, and two German daggers from WW2 and left $785.00 richer.

This is cool that something like this would come here to our town. Where else would this stuff ever be sold? The refinery has teamed up with the collectors for a 24 month tour of the United States, both big and small towns to dig up hidden gems.

If you go:

Items of Interest: Vintage Guitars: Martin, Gibson, Fender, National, Rickenbacker, Gretsch, Mandolins, Banjos and others.

Pocket Watches: Hamilton, Illinois, Waltham, Patek Phillipe, Ball, Howard, South Bend, Elgin and others Wrist watches: Omega, Accutron, Longines, Hamilton, Breitling and many more.

Old paper money: United States, Confederate States, Blanket Bills, $1000.00 bills and more.

Antique Toys: Trains, Tin windups, Mechanical Banks, Robots, Pressed Steel trucks, and many more.

War Memorabilia: Swords, Bayonets, Helmets, German, Confederate, Union, USA, & others.

Items we will accept include: Sterling Silverware Sterling Silver Tea Sets Dental Gold • Silver Dollars All Coins Dated 1964 & Earlier Scrap Jewelry • Industrial Scrap All forms of Platinum

WHO: Ohio Valley Gold & Silver Refinery Reclamation Drive WHAT: Open to public to sell gold and silver.

WHEN: December 14-18, 2010 WHERE:Courtyard by Marriott 166 N. Finley Ave. Athens, GA. 30601 TIMES: TUESDAY-FRIDAY 9:00am - 6:00pm SATURDAY 9:00am - 4:00pm SHOW INFO: (217) 523-4225

WE BUY 10¢ & 12¢ COMIC BOOKS!

Above • Couple waits with anticipation, ready to earn some extra Holiday Cash, as a Refinery expert uses special equipment to examine their old coins and broken jewelry.

Dozens cash in yesterday, just in time for the Holidays, with jewelry, railroad watches and guitars. An estimated $200,000 in Athens!

FLAGPOLE.COM ∙ DECEMBER 15, 2010

d Gol ry el w Je

Go l Co d ins

Silver Coins Sterlin g Pocket Silver hes Watc

By DAVID MORGAN STAFF WRITER

The first days of the 5 day reclamation drive in Athens will be a hit with those looking to sell their gold and silver.

Representatives are on hand this week purchasing all types of unwanted and broken jewelry. An estimated 55 people left the event with over $200 dollars from old class rings, wedding bands, herringbones, and gold teeth. Coins dated 1964 and earlier were bringing big premiums as well. Silver dollars, halves and quarters arrived in large quantities. Lots of gold coins were also brought in. Rebecca Hughes walked away with over $1200.00 after selling an original $20 gold piece from 1888.

On the other side of the room were representatives from the Antique Association. They were purchasing all types of guitars, large currency bills dated before 1923, military items and pocket watches.

One watch was purchased by a collector in Montana for $835 dollars. There were piles

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of sterling silver items like old silverware sets and tea pots. One gentleman rolled a cart in with 3 boxes full of silver coins. Company officials reported spending over $80,000 the first day of the event, alone. Brian Eades with Ohio Valley said, “We have had an overwhelming turnout this first day and we expect to get busier every day this week.”

The event continues today and runs through Saturday. The event is free and the public is welcome.

Get some Holiday Cash!

Q&A with Hilton Valentine An Animal Lo0se in Athens

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FP: Do you think you’ll be back to play Athens at some point?

HV: Yeah, I’d love to. Maybe Jeff can help us out with that—get us fixed up.

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FP: You’ve mentioned the Rolling Stones, too. Did you ever have any run-ins with them?

HV: Yeah, in fact, Brian Jones was the guy that first turned me on to acid. I don’t know if this is good stuff for your newspaper.

Germaine Valentine: So, Hilton carried on the tradition and turned Steve Winwood onto acid [laughs].

HV: And Jimi Hendrix. And Eric Burden. And Chas Chandler.

It was my idea to call it The Jimi Hendrix Experience. Because of the book I was reading at the time: The Psychedelic Experience by Timothy Leary [laughs].

GV: He was a bad influence [laughs].

HV: I’m alright now, though. I don’t do them things anymore. I just drink Newcastle Brown Ale.

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Jeff Walls: I remember you told me a great story one time about sittin’ in Mike Jeffries’ office and George Harrison callin’ on the phone.

HV: Yeah, I was in The Animals’ office, and the secretary says, “Hilton, there’s a Jeff Chandler on the phone.” And I said “Jeff Chandler?” (he was an actor). So, I answered the phone and heard “Hello, Hilton, it’s George here.” He wanted to know about an acid trip that I had. There were similarities between some acid trips he had taken… and so he invited me down to his house to discuss the results.

l

FP: Can you give us a little background on skiffle?

HV: Back in the ‘50s in England, rock and roll was just startin’ to happen. There was one guy in particular, called Lonnie Donegan, who was playing skiffle music, and he came from a tradition which, I guess, you would call New Orleans Dixieland Jazz.

And he was playin’ banjo in a band called the Ken Collier Band, so he was aware of people like Woody Guthrie and Leadbelly, and he was playing and (l to r) Jeff Walls, Hilton Valentine and Skiffledog drummer, Pat Quinn singing these songs, so he broke away and formed the Lonnie Donegan Skiffle Group, playing this American folk Taylor “One more! One more!” but meanwhile, the audience was music but pepped up quite a bit. And at that time for us, shoutin’ “We Want Chuck! We Want Chuck!” Then they started skiffle music and the rock and roll that was coming out—Little wreckin’ the place. So, eventually he gets paid, he comes out, Richard, Elvis, Bill Haley—to us it was all the same. So, for the and the whole place goes wild. He finishes his show, walks kids that were living in England at the time, the simplest thing back offstage, band’s still playin’, he’s straight off down the to play was skiffle. You didn’t have to have electric guitars; we stairs, out the back door, into a car, and he’s away. The band’s used washboards, tea chest bass. My first skiffle group had a still playin’, the audience is still shoutin’ “YEAH, MORE, MORE!” little plastic saxophone with one note workin’. One guy played and we’re just in awe. But that came from his experience of a comb and paper… It was kinda like the jug bands in the playing and not gettin’ paid.

States. And we’re now playing some of the songs that I played way back in the mid-’50s.

FP: In a lifetime of performing, is there one show or one moment that stands out as the biggest or most memorable?

FP: Are you using any homemade instruments on this record?

HV: Coming to America at the time “House of the Rising HV: No, no. We’ve progressed [laughs]. We’ve advanced from Sun” was number one—that was a pretty big deal. To actually the tin box to an actual snare drum played with brushes. And fly to New York and have this cavalcade of English sports cars we’ve got a bass guitar, and Germaine plays washboard, eggs driven into the city—it was quite an amazing thing—and, of and tambourine. course, meeting The Beatles.

One night we were playin’ at this club, and Brian Epstein and The Beatles were there, and we were invited back to Brian Epstein’s place to have some more drinks. So, we’re there, drinkin’ and smokin’, doin’ the business, and there was this stuff called amyl nitrate. They were these vials wrapped up in bandages, and if somebody was having a heart attack they were snapped and poured down their nose and made the heart beat really fast to get the circulation going. So, as all good druggies do, you try everything. You got high for about 30 seconds, but that’s what was going around. They smelled like sweaty socks. Anyhow, at this point, all the amyl— we called them poppers—we were snortin’ em and gettin’ the rush, and there came a time when John Lennon shouts out “We got anymore of them poppers?” and Terry says “Nah, John, sorry, we’re out.”

So, Lennon just lifts up his arm, puts his nose in his armpit and goes “Oh, well [takes a big whiff].”

GA l

David Fitzgerald

Flagpole: What brings you to Athens?

Hilton Valentine: We wanted to record some stuff that we’d been playing for the last two or three years. I’ve got this band—we go out under the name of Skiffledog and under me own name.

My wife Germaine thought it would be a good idea to ask Mr. Jeff Walls to produce it. We met Jeff with The Woggles up in Connecticut. He’s worked with the engineer Dave Barbe a few times, and they know each other very well, so it was a perfect opportunity to do these songs.

FP: What kind of acts did you play with when you first started out?

HV: The first tour that The Animals played on was the Chuck Berry tour in England. His backing band was called King Size Taylor and the Dominoes. They did their own little set, and then Chuck came on. So, Chuck’s locked himself in his dressing room, and he won’t come out until he’s paid. Peter Grant, who ended up managing Led Zeppelin but at that time was the tour manager, is on his knees feeding pound notes under the door to Chuck. Backstage people were shoutin’ at King Size

A 2 Co nniv 0 th ok er bo sar ok y …

F

lagpole sat down with Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Hilton Valentine (original lead guitarist for The Animals) this week to talk about his new project, Skiffledog, a return to his earliest musical roots in the 1950s British skiffle scene. Recording at Chase Park Transduction with Jeff Walls and Dave Barbe, and joined by his wife and auxiliary percussionist, Germaine, Valentine was eager to discuss his recording endeavors both new and old, and gamely tossed out a few stories about his younger, wilder years paling around with the likes of The Beatles, Rolling Stones and Jimi Hendrix.

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DECEMBER 15, 2010 · FLAGPOLE.COM

21

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FLAGPOLE.COM ∙ DECEMBER 15, 2010

threats & promises the Dream Lives On Music News And Gossip Well, I guess it’s the season to be jolly. So, get jolly, people. Rest ye hairy gentlemen and all that. But, before you do anything, throw on a blanket and read about what’s boiling this week…

No Funds, My Babe, No Funds: The newest Kickstarter campaign happening in Athens comes courtesy of songwriter Lera Lynn. She’s looking to raise $2,500 to shoot a video with director Brett Vaughn. The song in question is “Good Hearted Man,” and it would be the second video from her upcoming album, Have You Met Lera Lynn? The campaign is a short one and will expire on Jan. 1 and, of course, you get different rewards depending on the size of your donation. Although the first video (“Bobby Baby,” also by Vaughn) from the record was a sparse affair (that looks great, by the way) she plans for the next one to include “day-dream sequences and dialogue… 12–14

Lera Lynn actors, two production assistants, a make-up artist, a costume artist and a set-designer/ prop master.” So it’s more of a short film.

Sadly, this is the first local fundraising campaign I can’t really get behind. Videos are not records. While they can be cool, and are undoubtedly an art form of their own and potentially add to the impact of a song, they tend to principally serve as advertisements for records, and I don’t think fans should be solicited, no matter the reward, to pay for advertising. If you disagree, feel free to cough it up via the link available at www. leralynn.com.

Name It: Perpetually under-appreciated local music-maker Jon Lester (Refuse Factory, Radio: Tahiti) will play his last show under the moniker Dis-Taste-R on Thursday, Dec. 16 at Little Kings Shuffle Club. This isn’t his last show ever—just the last one under that name.

He tends to change names every 10 years or so, but he hasn’t revealed his new one. Also on the bill this night are Octa P.A., Smokedog and The Subliminator. Things will kick off at 8:30 p.m., and I’d suggest familiarizing yourself with Lester’s work by heading to www. distaster.com and following the links to his various Internet sites.

Grab It: The multi-faceted entertainment hub Party Party Partners hit a high-water mark last Christmas when The Dream Scene’s Christmas LP was released. The 12-song collection of seasonal standards contained radically and artfully reworked, yet incredibly respectful, versions as imagined by local producer/ musician Javier Morales. It was the surprise treat of the year. Now, for this year’s season,

PPP is giving it all away as a free download with two new bonus tracks. Head to www.partypartypartners.com/xmas/xmas.html to get your copy.

Watch It: A very nice slice of Athens history was uploaded to YouTube a couple of weeks ago. Titled Fatal Outlet, the film was shot by the late Ted Hafer (Porn Orchard, The Grit) in the early-mid 1990s here in town.

It’s a humorous production and features a veritable cast of Athens stars from this time including Creston Spiers and Paul Trudeau (Harvey Milk), Ballard Lesemann (Roosevelt), Claudia Bechet (The Grit), Curtiss Pernice (Porn Orchard), Larry Tenner (Magneto), John Donnelly, Jennifer Harper (The Grit) Dave Marr and Doug Hollingsworth (Star Room Boys), Amber Valentine (Jucifer), Deonna Mann, John Britt (Stunt Double), Pat Valentine (Kincaid) and more. Hafer was a video enthusiast who produced at least one other short film (Apocalypse Warrior) as well as a few music videos. Fatal Outlet rambles on a good bit and is, at times, difficult to follow, but it’s nice to see it again and marvel at how everyone looks like babies. The footage also features nice street scenes, several shots inside the original Jittery Joe’s on Washington Street (where Max Canada lives now) and, as a whole, just takes me back. Many thanks are due to Chunklet magazine’s Henry Owings for uploading this. See the whole thing over at www.youtube.com/user/chunkletguy.

Short Takes: Ghostmeat Records will officially release the new album, A Pre-Existing Condition, by former Athenian David Dondero next February, but you can get a copy now via www.ghostmeat.com. Featured players include the still-local William Tonks, Clay Leverett, Ken Will Morton and Ghostmeat honcho Russ Hallauer. The guys in local band Bombs Bombs Bombs have been busy beavers this month working on what will be either an EP or a full-length release. Whatever it will be, it’s scheduled for release early next year.

Listen to sketches of what they’ve done over at www.facebook.com/BombsBombsBombs.

The surprise smile of the week comes courtesy of acoustic act The Skipperdees. Composed of twin sisters Catherine and Emily Backus, the pair hail from Oak Ridge, TN, but make their home in Athens at least during the school year. While the Backus sisters may, at first blush, seem like a run-of-the-mill acoustic duo (mainly guitar and banjo with an occasional electric guitar accompaniment), there’s a certain purity and honesty in their sound that separates them from the crowd. There’s a definite mountain influence here, too, which makes sense. Give ‘em a listen over at www.facebook.com/pages/TheSkipperdees/127242153964101 but avoid the live videos posted there because there’s too much wind noise. Go for the recorded tracks instead.

Gordon Lamb threatsandpromises@flagpole.com

The 2nd Annual Tribute Concert for Jon Guthrie

In

September of 2009, Athens lost a beloved musician when 26-year-old Jon Guthrie lost control of his car and veered off-road into a creek. The premature passing of such a talented and promising young musician stunned the community.

Known for his kind heart and pure talent, Guthrie was well known and well loved in the Athens music community. He began performing live as a teenager and continued to find kindred musical spirits throughout his life.

Even during his short time with us, Jon contributed to dozens of local bands, making an impression on each of the people he met.

“His affable good nature, easy-going attitude and staggering talent made him one of the town’s most sought after players,” Vigilantes of Love frontman Bill Mallonee wrote to Flagpole at the time of Jon’s passing. “It was a privilege and an honor to play with Jon.” In addition to VoL, Guthrie played with Exit 86, Community Chaos and many more, but perhaps his best known roll was as bassist in the Michael Guthrie Band, where he played alongside his father Michael and uncle Herb.

He toured around the world with the group and truly held his own among seasoned music veterans.

A few months after the accident in 2009, father Michael Guthrie put out a call for acts to participate in a tribute show. It was not surprising that a considerable portion of the Athens music scene rushed forward to lend their talents in honor of their friend Jon. The first “Living the Dream” show last December included many of the bands that Guthrie had played with, ranging from the heavier sounding Guff and Choptop to the more pop-oriented Love Tractor. Frontman Mike Richmond remembers the first time he met and played with Guthrie.

“Here was this young guy, and he was a great musician for his age, a really good player,” says Richmond. “He ended up playing with us on our Christmas album and was a member of Love Tractor for a little bit.”

For Richmond’s band, it wasn’t a question of whether or not Love Tractor would like to perform at the show. Like many of Jon’s former bandmates, Richmond held deep connections to both Jon and his father, Michael.

“I’ve known his dad forever,” says Richmond. “He asked us to be a part of the first tribute, which we did, and he asked us to be a part of the show again this year.”

“Living the Dream II” will have even more bands than its predecessor. Joining Love Tractor and the Michael Guthrie Band will be four-piece punk band Karbomb, the hardcore Choptop, folksy bands Curley Maple and the Bros. Marler, teenage upstarts Athens and the hard-rocking Free Mountain. Adding to the fun will be the tattooed punk kids from Burns Like Fire, garage rockers Thunderchief

and the punk rockers with pop sensibility, So It Goes. Seth Hendershot, The Rick Fowler Band, Gabriela Mejias and Sleeper Years will bring the tunes alongside a new collective project named The Spinoffs.

The Spinoffs features musicians who are connected to bands that the Guthries performed with in the past. Featuring Kathy Kirbo of Heavy Feather/Jackpot City, Chris McKay of the Critical Darlings, Ian Werden and Bryan J. Howard of The HEAP, the band plays a mix of rock and pop.

While Jon’s loss still weighs heavily on the hearts of many Athenians, this will not be a melancholy event. The bands involved want the night to be a celebration of Jon’s life and a reminder of all the things we sometimes take for granted.

“I’m not allowing it to be sad for me,” says McKay. “You can’t function and go through life that way. I didn’t know Jon all that well personally, but I can’t imagine that he would’ve wanted this show to be like that. You’ve got to live and play because we’ve all got limited time here. And I think that’s what we’re going for.”

In the end, it all comes down to the love of life and music that Jon held so dearly.

Though he may no longer be with us, his music and his friendships will live on.

Adds McKay: “It’s a celebration in Jon’s name, and it’s really a celebration that we’re together, and that we are able to do this, and we will continue to do this for as long as we all possibly can.”

Jordan Stepp

WHAT: Living the Dream II: Jon Guthrie Tribute Show WHERE: 40 Watt Club WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 18, 6 p.m.

HOW MUCH: $8 (21+), $10 (18+)

DECEMBER 15, 2010 · FLAGPOLE.COM

23

record reviews KANYE WEST My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy Roc-A-Fella

Merry Christmas

OK, OK. Genius. Voice of a generation. Yada, yada, yada. I’m still not sure I buy it, but I at least “get it” now.

Kanye West has a vision, and while we’ve seen glimpses of it throughout his eventful career (“Jesus Walked,” “We Major,” “Amazing”) never before has he combined his myriad musical interests into such a complete, genredefying package. That is to say, while still ostensibly a hip-hop record, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy draws together elements of rap, soul, funk and modern dance music into an inescapable, larger-than-life pop hybrid that is spiritually closer to Prince or Michael Jackson than any of West’s own previous efforts. The absolutely bumpin’ “All of the Lights” features multiple horn players, a bevy of guest vocalists and a beat that will make you forget everything except the brilliant mind that soldered its pieces together. “Hell of a Life” finds West fantasizing about settling down with a pornstar, a contradiction that is beautifully mirrored in the contrast of a croaky, dubstep bassline set against intricate, doubletime harpsichord runs. The grand finale, “Lost in the World,” begins with a sample of Bon Iver’s “Woods,” upon which West drops the hardest beat you’ll hear all year, and makes a strong case for best track of 2010 with a peerless anthem for the unlimited, aimless potential of the I-generation. Gil Scott Heron’s breathtaking spoken-word outro repeatedly begs the titular question: “Who will survive in America?” and one can’t help but think “Kanye will.” The only real question this album leaves its listener with is: “How will he ever top it?”

David Fitzgerald

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FLAGPOLE.COM ∙ DECEMBER 15, 2010

Archers’ self-titled 7-inch debut roars out of the soundsystem with a sense of urgency and purpose rarely seen in modern guitar rock. The band’s brief period of time together is reflected in this release only in its brief runtime and charming, guess-what-we-can-do bravado. Their skillful use of energy, enlivening several generations of rock tropes, makes me wonder when I last used the word “proficient” as a wholehearted compliment.

Proficient it is though—dual guitars (brothers Chris and Mike Cantino) soar through the mix. Their complementary melodies build tension while avoiding being angular simply as a means unto itself. A considerable amount of range is delivered by the rhythm section, which favors propulsive beats and ‘70s dinosaur fills, but has no difficulty navigating the subtler moments and makes dynamic shifts work whether they are expected or not.

All of this is brought to the fore on the first track and single, “Brussels Truffles,” where the catchiness of its “bah bah” Britpop vocal harmonies allows the band to slip in and out of standard time-signature almost unnoticeably. This sensibility seems to have won over at least a few listeners across the pond, as Archers recently became one of few stateside groups to sign to Heavenly Records, a label whose catalog already features many good uses of nonverbal hooks. They are tentatively releasing a single version of “Truffles” as well as a full LP next year. In the meantime, the four brief songs on this 7-inch will have to suffice. They are available through bandcamp.com.

Brian Veysey

MODERN SKIRTS Gramahawk Independent Release Modern Skirts’ harmonious pop has gotten grimier but no less immaculately assembled on Gramahawk, the local quartet’s third full-length. While the band’s second album All of Us in Our Night seemed like a willful rejection of easier, earlier melodies and was occasionally hampered by its own reactionary qualities, Gramahawk knows it can play with expectations but doesn’t feel compelled to do so.

As was the case with past Skirts songs, the ideas are intriguing. What’s curious about Gramahawk, though, is that its compositions can tend to feel underbaked and overwrought, frequently simultaneously. While in its entirety it presents a variety of ideas and sounds, the individual tracks lack the internal dynamism that can be seen when considering the album as a whole from a bird’s-eye view. All the tunes fall between the three- and four-minute mark, and most would carry more weight either condensed into a quick pop nugget or expanded/combined into something a little more ambitious— mashed up McCartney-style into one epic romp.

If any of this sounds overly critical, it’s because there’s a certain base-level performance assumed at this point when it comes to the Skirts—the band’s so skilled at creating intriguing melodies, luxuriant harmonies and giddy hooks that they’re easy to take for granted.

So, what does a band create when it’s already good? Packed with confident experimentalism, Gramahawk in its current form sounds like the blueprint to a great album. But it also sounds like a document of musicians

and songwriters so skilled in their crafts that they’re becoming more intrigued and excited by the process rather than the end product. While it doesn’t always offer immediate satisfaction, Gramahawk does reward close attention and consideration.

Chris Hassiotis

The two shining exceptions include “Comin’ Through,” which thickens and warps fluid Fleetwood Mac breezes, and the rousing “Baby Missiles,” which sounds like Bruce Springsteen riding in on a silver pop steed. Of the simpler numbers, the echo-swathed Dylan job of “Pile of Tires” works the best.

On its own, Future Weather is a reasonably good and interesting record. The War on Drugs still applies unorthodoxy to heartfelt American music and works well with noise and spacey textures. But in the admittedly monolithic shadow of what this band is capable of, it’s a concession that’s good for only a couple of singles.

Bao Le-Huu

PAT JORDACHE Future Songs Independent Release Paul Simon’s Graceland has been getting a lot of good press in recent years, but Montreal’s Pat Jordache gets points for taking cues from Simon while staying away from the stale, uniform cheeriness of his lesser imitators.

I’m not saying Graceland is all smiles, it’s just that the record’s whimsical melancholy tends to get all Gap ad saccharine in others’ hands. Something about the rhythm, I guess.

On Future Songs, Jordache’s range spans from Graceland to Bridge Over Troubled Water, but just as his treatment of the latter sounds more akin to early K Records recordings, so is his take on late-’70s, early-’80s pop more at home among bands like Joy Division and New Order. Channeled through Jordache’s baritone, Ian Curtis’ anguished brooding becomes an alienating, laconic mope.

As anthemic as the band gets, particularly on opener “Radio,” the singer holds back enough that the music never sweeps up the listener, forming a distance from which to better survey the songs. This is a strength—that Jordache is willing to hold his songs to the light rather than hide them under a thick veneer of cheeriness. The flaws that show—and they are few—are the price of this honesty.

Marshall Yarbrough

THE WAR ON DRUGS Future Weather Secretly Canadian Philadelphia band The War on Drugs made perhaps the most exciting debut of 2008 with Wagonwheel Blues, a gorgeous storm of folk-gaze that streaked the sky with sparkling pastoral fog. Unfortunately, little of that scale and magnificence is reprised in this follow-up. Instead, much of the tenor of the eight-song mini-album is introverted and spare. If you’ve tasted the breath-stealing grandeur of Wagonwheel Blues then you’ll know how truly devastating this fact is.

THE GOLD PARTY The Gold Party EP Independent Release A few years back, Benji Barton took what was left of his former band Boulevard and moved from Athens to Brooklyn to try and really make it. He wrote some incredible songs, built a bit of momentum, but eventually, like so many before him, the financial strains of life in the big city chewed him up and spit him back out. But it was not all for naught it seems, as his unrelenting spirit in the face of sobering disillusionment inspired the moving tracks on this EP. Opening track “Luxury and Light” is Barton’s New York story, but it’s also everyone’s mid-life crisis. Backed by new wave rhythms and synth, Barton, with his rich croon (a little Dave Gahan, a little Richard Butler) sings of searching for “a hint of beauty” for himself and his lover amongst the monotony of an unrewarding work week. As the track climaxes with an epic swell of strings arranged by Barton, the song itself seems to offer the listener that coveted moment of magnificence.

“Discolite” and “On Your Side” speak to many of the same themes— seeking refuge from the daily grind in nightlife (“Discolite”) and love (“On Your Side”).

The Gold Party has built a reputation for its lively ‘80s covers set, tackling bands like The Smiths, The Cure and New Order, and the first three tracks on the EP could all seamlessly fit into the mix as the band pays homage to its heroes. But while there is certainly a retro feel, the production of this EP is decidedly crisp, modern and totally kitsch-free.

The EP ends with a couple of curve balls. The first being instrumental track “Smoothie” which sounds a bit like the score for a educational late-’60s slideshow about traversing space mixed with the jingle of Arabian nights. This is followed by a remix of “On Your Side” done by local DJ Feral Youth. Although The Gold Party is very danceable as is, if you need need heavy house beats and samples of women moaning in ecstasy to really get your feet moving, this is for you. It’s like an ‘80s dance party and a rave all wrapped into one sparkling debut.

Michelle Gilzenrat

Low Yo Yo Stuff

OPEN EVERY DAY UNTIL CHRISTMAS!

The Beloved Downtown Record Store Returns

A

fter a four-year sabbatical in Atlanta, Low Yo Yo Stuff hath returned to Athens, this time cozied up to the left side of the 40 Watt Club with thrice the space as the old store (1994–2007).

Reflecting on the first incarnation of LYYS, local resident Marshall Ethridge describes the early days: “It had that barber shop feel where people would just hang out and talk about music… or anything, really.” A barber shop where a boy’s regular was code for that must-have LP, whether it be Robert Wyatt’s Rock Bottom, The Monkees’ first album, a Drivin’ N’ Cryin’ limited release, Echo and the Bunnymen’s Crocodiles or anything in The Fall section. Current owners Todd Ploharski and Chris Razz might not recall all of their customers by name, but they can certainly associate them by taste, such as the “Bee Gees guy*.”

And while every visitor might not remember the details of flipping through albums, the ones with stories attached can’t forget.

Charles-Ryan Barber

It’s impossible to know for sure, but perhaps it was the intimate setting/ sock-drawer size of the first LYYS that led to fraternization and, in some instances, marriage. Ploharski met his former wife while working at the store and described how she would duck out of her parents’ house around the midnight hour to scour through records. Friend and former customer, Ethridge is still married to his LYYS-sweetheart, Melissa Shockley—a union resulting in part from their shared affinity for The Monkees. “I was hanging out when she came in asking for someone to transfer an acetate copy of a 45 single of Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart… I told her, ‘That’s the first record I ever bought!’”

For very different reasons, shopping in the early store conjures memories for some local(ish) musicians. Athens singer-songwriter

Madeline Adams describes an influential purchase from the earlier store. “Todd picked out Echo and the Bunnymen’s Crocodiles for me,” she says. “I’m still stealing snippets of melody and lyrics from it.” Deerhunter’s Bradford Cox has shared a LYYS story in interviews about spilling a Jolt soda on The Fall section when he was nine, which Ploharski recalls. “There is some debate about whether we made him purchase the records. I don’t think we would have done that, but either way, Bradford became fixated on The Fall.”

Downtown Athens is ideal for influencing budding artists, and of course, abutting the 40 Watt ain’t bad for business. Although it’s ideal for a record store, the owners are also being reminded of the disadvantages of the location.

In order to take advantage of the flow of the local scene, late nights are demanded. “Until closing” often means “until you leave,” which presents a paradox and is partly the reason Ploharski moved the store.

Although the ATL location wasn’t convenient for visits by Belle and Sebastian or Interpol, it offered a reprieve to the owner. Even with limited hours and an address off the beaten path, the ATL permutation did attract some diehard customers.

A few of the ATL converts were in Athens checking out the new digs and shared their experiences in the store, specifically how it compares to the virtual other.

One of the ATL area-based customers, Dan Morris, discovered LYYS a year and a half ago, after which it became his favorite record store. “I’m not a downloader, but also some of the stuff I’m looking for I’d probably only be able to find on eBay. Plus there’s a charm about coming to a record store and discovering a band you would never know existed.” A father and son who frequented the ATL store were also in town checking out the new location. The son had this to say: “I may do research, but these guys are a million times better than research I can do online. I’ve come in and mentioned one band, and instead they throw another record at me. Every time I’ve listened, I’ve never been disappointed.”

The son’s comment conveys a relative truth about the record store experience. In part, by virtue of stepping into the store, hearing whatever tunes the owners decide to play, and asking for their recommendations, you’re subject to their knowledge and tastes. But therein lie the goods that make each store unique. It’s not surprising then that the seed to resurrect LYYS in Athens was planted when Razz and Ploharski happened to be in town for one sole reason: to catch a show at the 40 Watt.

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Sarah Savage *LYYS guarantees never to scoff at a request. It’s never “make fun of the middle-aged square guy” day in the store.

DECEMBER 15, 2010 · FLAGPOLE.COM

25

the calendar!

WHAT’S HAPPENING THIS WEEK

HOLIDAY DeadlinE: The deadline for getting listed in the Calendar will be THURSDAY, Dec. 16 at 5 p.m. for the issue of Dec. 22. Email calendar@flagpole.com.

Tuesday 14 EVENTS: Ohio Valley Gold & Silver Roadshow (Courtyard by Marriott) Sell your unwanted gold and silver. Dec. 14-17, 9 a.m.–6 p.m. Dec. 18, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. FREE! 217-523-4225 EVENTS: Women’s Club Christmas Luncheon (Athens Country Club) The University Women’s Club hosts their annual luncheon. 11:30 a.m. jmh121@ windstream.net PERFORMANCE: Georgia Children’s Chorus (UGA Hodgson Hall) Conductor Carol Reeves invites you to experience the wonder of Christmas. 7 p.m. $5. www.georgiachildrenschorus.org * THEATRE: Cats (The Classic Center) Andrew Lloyd Webber’s classic musical based on a series of poems about cats. Family-friendly production with themes of magic & mystery. 7:30 p.m. $10–$70. 706-3574444, www.classiccenter.com * KIDSTUFF: Children’s Storytime (ACC Library) For children ages 18 months to 5 years. Tuesdays, 9:30 a.m., Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m. FREE! 706-613-3650 MEETINGS: Sitting Meditation Group (Mind Body Institute) Silent meditation. 12:30 p.m. FREE! 706475-7329 GAMES: Locos Trivia (Locos Grill & Pub) All three Athens locations of Locos Grill and Pub (Westside, Eastside and Harris St.) feature trivia night every Tuesday. 8:30 p.m.

FREE! www.locosgrill.com GAMES: Trivia (Alibi) Find out what Visual Audio Trivia is! 8 p.m. FREE! 706-549-1010

Wednesday 15 EVENTS: Bad Movie Night: Feeders 2: Slay Bells (Ciné BarCafé) Paper-mache aliens invade a small town over Christmas, and it’s up to Santa to save the world. 8 p.m.

FREE! www.athenscine.com EVENTS: Canine Cocktail Hour (Hotel Indigo, Madison Bar & Bistro Courtyard) Drink and food specials for you and your (well-behaved, non-aggressive, vaccinated) dog!

This week: salty dogs and greyhounds. Every Wednesday. 5–7 p.m. www.indigoathens.com EVENTS: Ohio Valley Gold & Silver Roadshow (Courtyard by Marriott) Sell your unwanted gold and silver. Dec. 14-17, 9 a.m.–6 p.m. Dec. 18, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. FREE! 217-523-4225 EVENTS: Town Hall Meeting on Social Security (YWCO) First installment in the “Voices of the South: How Social Security Affects Rural Populations” educational series. Attendees are invited to share and hear opinions on current Social

26

Security policies and proposed changes. Call to RSVP. 6-8 p.m.

FREE! 706-549-4850 KIDSTUFF: Children’s Storytime (ACC Library) For children ages 18 months to 5 years. Tuesdays, 9:30 a.m., Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m. FREE! 706-613-3650 KIDSTUFF: Homeschoolers Chapter Book Review (Madison County Library) Elementary schoolage homeschoolers gather at the library to read a book together and talk about it. Every Wednesday. 2 p.m. FREE! 706-795-5597 KIDSTUFF: Santa’s Workshop (East Athens Community Center) It’s not child labor if it’s fun! Kids ages 3–12 are invited to help Santa with some last-minute chores. Fill in for Santa’s depleted elf workforce and help feed the reindeer, decorate cookies, stuff the stockings and hang the lights! Call to register. 5–6 p.m. FREE! 706-613-3593, www. accleisureservices.com KIDSTUFF: Wildcard Wednesday: Artist Trading Cards (ACC Library) Come make an artist trading card with us and then trade it!

Free and open to the first 15 teens, ages 11–18. 4–5 p.m. FREE! 706613-3650 LECTURES & LIT.: A Guide to Employment and Workforce Management (Athens Technical College) Attorneys from Miller & Martin LLC explain several aspects to working with the National Labor Relations Board. Please call to register. Space is limited. 8 a.m.–12 p.m.

FREE! 706-369-5763 GAMES: Dart League and Game Night (Alibi) Meet up with other sharp-shooters. FREE! 706-5491010 GAMES: Poker Night (Buffalo’s Southwest Café) Texas Hold ‘Em every Wednesday. 18 and up. Sign in at 6:30 p.m. Begins at 7:30 p.m.

FREE! www.interstatepokerclub.com GAMES: Sports Trivia (Beef ‘O’ Brady’s) Every Wednesday. Win house cash and prizes! 8:30 p.m.

FREE! 706-850-1916 GAMES: Trivia (Copper Creek Brewing Company) Test your trivia chops for prizes! Every Wednesday.

9 p.m. FREE! 706-546-1102 GAMES: Trivia (Willy’s Mexicana Grill) Test your trivia knowledge for prizes every Wednesday! 8 p.m.

FREE! 706-548-1920

Thursday 16 EVENTS: A Cook’s Holiday (UGA East Campus Village, Village Summit) Traditional luncheon feast present by campus catering for the enjoyment of UGA faculty, staff, students and the extended community of Athens. $14.75. 706-583-0892 EVENTS: Athens Food and Culture Movie Night (Flicker Theatre & Bar) The monthly magazine presents

FLAGPOLE.COM ∙ DECEMBER 15, 2010

its monthly movie screening. 8:30 p.m. FREE! 706-546-0039 EVENTS: Christmas Remembrance (Bernstein Funeral Home) Bring a personalized ornament to place on the Remembrance Tree in memory of a special person.

6:30 p.m. FREE! 706-543-7373 EVENTS: iFilms: Welcome (ACC Library) Bilal, a 17-year-old Kurdish refugee, has been struggling though Europe in an attempt to reunite with his girlfriend in England, but his journey is halted in Calais when he is stopped by authorities. Left with no alternatives, Bilal enlistes local swimming instructor, Simon, to help him train to swim across the English Channel. 7 p.m. FREE! 706613-3650 EVENTS: Live After Five Holiday Party (Hotel Indigo) Holiday music

by Mark Maxwell, specialty hot drinks and a photo booth for guests to enjoy! 6–8 p.m. 888-928-4367 EVENTS: Ohio Valley Gold & Silver Roadshow (Courtyard by Marriott) Sell your unwanted gold and silver. Dec. 14-17, 9 a.m.–6 p.m. Dec. 18, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. FREE! 217-523-4225 EVENTS: Open House (Georgetown Frames) Holiday event with book signing, original art, photography, handmade jewelry and more! Live music and refreshments included.

6–8 p.m. FREE! 706-3674 EVENTS: Yappy Hour for (WellBehaved) Dogs (283 Bar) Happy hour is all the more happy when your dog is by your side. Come out for drink specials for humans and endless bowls of water and treats for the furries. 5–8 p.m. 706-208-1283 KIDSTUFF: Open Playtime (ACC Library) For children ages 1–3 with their caregivers. 10:30 a.m. FREE! 706-613-3650 KIDSTUFF: Ugly Sweater and Holiday Party (Oconee County Library) Teens aged 11-18 are invited to wear their best ugly holiday sweater to a night of holiday games and snacks. 6–8 p.m. FREE! 706769-3950 LECTURES & LIT.: AfricanAmerican Authors Book Club (East Athens Community Center) This month’s title is For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When The Rainbow is Enuf by Ntozake Shange. Newcomers welcome. 5 p.m. FREE! 706-613-3650 GAMES: Beer Pong (Alibi) The classic tournament-style game. 9 p.m.

FREE! 706-549-1010 GAMES: Dart Tourney (Alibi) Inhouse weekly dart tournment. 9 p.m.

FREE! 706-549-1010

Friday 17 EVENTS: A Cook’s Holiday (UGA East Campus Village, Village Summit) Traditional luncheon feast present by campus catering for the

I-Hsiung Ju’s “Yellow Mountain Mural” is a Chinese brush painting scroll on exhibit at the Lyndon House Arts Center through Jan 19. enjoyment of UGA faculty, staff, students and the extended community of Athens. $14.75. 706-583-0892 EVENTS: Cheesy Christmas Sweater Party (Jack’s Bar) Christmas music and prizes for the cheesiest sweater! Please bring a new unwrapped toy or child-appropriate gift for donation to ARMC. 8 p.m. FREE! 706-725-8612 EVENTS: Fall Semester Commencement (UGA Stegeman Coliseum) Undergraduate ceremony hosts speaker Pete Correll, chairman emeritus of Georgia-Pacific Corp., and the graduate ceremony hosts B. Phinizy Spalding Distinguished Professor James C. Cobb. 9:30 a.m. (undergraduate), 2:30 p.m. (graduate) www.uga.edu EVENTS: Ladies Zumba Night (Whole: Mind. Body. Art., 160 Tracy St.) Dinner, then door prizes, then dancing, oh my! Call to register.

7–10 p.m. $22 (adv.) $25 (drop-in).

Contact Brian Vaught: 706-4100283, www.wholemindbodyart.com EVENTS: Naughty or Nice (Alibi) Alibi’s annual Christmas party featuring music by Southern Soul. 8 p.m. FREE! 706-549-1010 EVENTS: Ohio Valley Gold & Silver Roadshow (Courtyard by Marriott) Sell your unwanted gold and silver. Dec. 14-17, 9 a.m.–6 p.m. Dec. 18, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. FREE! 217-523-4225 PERFORMANCE: Athens Master Chorale (First Presbyterian Church) The AMC celebrates the holiday season, performing the works of Rutter, Rachmaninoff, Byrd, Tavener and more. 8 p.m. FREE! www.athensmasterchorale.com KIDSTUFF: Fun with Games (Lay Park) Play the many fun and educational games donated by the Friends of the Library. Fridays, 3:30–5 p.m.

FREE! 706-613-3667

KIDSTUFF: Japanese Storytime (ACC Library, Storyroom) Learn about Japanese culture through literacy-based fun. Led by volunteers from UGA’s Japan Outreach Program. 4:30 p.m. FREE! 706613-3650 KIDSTUFF: Preschool & Toddler Storytime (Madison County Library) Includes stories, fingerpuppet plays, songs and crafts for literacy-based fun. 10:30 a.m. FREE! 706-795-5597 KIDSTUFF: Santa! (Beef ‘O’ Brady’s) Get your picture taken with the jolly old elf and enter the coloring contest to win a prize! 6:30–8 p.m. FREE! 706-850-1916 MEETINGS: Drinking Liberally (Little Kings Shuffle Club) Informal social group that gives left-leaning individuals a chance to talk politics.

First Friday of every month. 6:30 p.m. athens@drinkingliberally.org

Saturday 18 EVENTS: Beyond the Hedges: From Tailgating to Tea Parties (Borders Books & Music) The Junior League of Athens brings you samples from its Athens-centric cookbook. All the proceeds from the book sale benefit Food 2 Kids. 3 p.m. FREE! 706-583-8647 EVENTS: Athens Farmers Market (Bishop Park) Buy fresh, locally grown organic produce, locally crafted goods and freshly baked breads. Now accepting EBT cards.

This week is a special “Holiday Market” featuring crafts and a musical performance by The Solstice Sisters. 8 a.m.–Noon. FREE! www. athensfarmersmarket.net EVENTS: Christmas Party (The Office Lounge) Free food and fun with musical guests Shortbus

Allstars. 5:30 p.m. FREE! 706546-0840 EVENTS: Christmas with the Parrots (Dee’s Haven Parrot Rescue, Lexington) A chance to meet all the parrots at Dee’s Haven Parrot Rescue! 11 a.m.–3 p.m. 706599-5631 EVENTS: Flicker’s Holiday Craft and Artist Market (Flicker Theatre & Bar) Enjoy holiday drinks while shopping for locally crafted holiday gifts. noon–5 p.m. FREE! 706-5460039 EVENTS: Holiday Cooking with Sherri Goggin! (Borders Books & Music) Bring the kids and join Sherri for a hands-on demonstration on how to make holiday Baklava. 2 p.m. FREE! 706-583-8647 EVENTS: Holiday Jazz (OCAF) Put some swing into the season with the New HOTS Jazz Orchestra.

Sing along, dance or just tap your feet to holiday music. Please bring canned goods for the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia. 7–9 p.m. FREE! 706-769-4565, www.ocaf.com EVENTS: Invasive Crafts Program (Greenway) Learn why kudzu, privet and honeysuckle aren’t really your friends. Then, make crafts out of specimens harvested from the Greenway! For all ages. Call to register. 10 a.m.–noon. $2. 706613-3615 EVENTS: Ohio Valley Gold & Silver Roadshow (Courtyard by Marriott) Sell your unwanted gold and silver. Dec. 14-17, 9 a.m.–6 p.m. Dec. 18, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. FREE! 217-523-4225 EVENTS: Rockspring Park Community Center Dedication (Rocksprings Park) The new 8,100-sq.-ft. SPLOST 2005-funded center officially opens to the public!

Activities at the dedication include arts and crafts, face painting, inflat-

ables, refreshments and self-guided tours of the facility. 11 a.m. FREE! 706-613-3603 PERFORMANCE: A Baroque Christmas (UGA Hodgson Hall) The Athens Choral Society performs Bach’s Magnificat and Vivaldi’s Gloria. 7:30 p.m. FREE! www.athenschoralsociety.com OUTDOORS: Naturalist Walk (Sandy Creek Nature Center) Join SCNC staff for a walk around the property. Bring a camera or binoculars. All ages are welcome. Call to register. 10–11 a.m. FREE! 706613-3615 KIDSTUFF: Breakfast with Santa (Memorial Park) Santa is terribly busy this time of year, but he knows how important breakfast is. Join him for crafts, activities and photos! Call to sign up. 9 & 10 a.m. $5. 706613-3580 KIDSTUFF: Downtown Athens Breakfast with Santa (The Georgian) Visit Santa and enjoy a delicious breakfast feast while making holiday crafts. Call to reserve your place! 9:30 a.m.–noon. $10–$15. 706-353-1421

KIDSTUFF: Little Bulldog, Big Dreams Reading (Borders Books & Music) Amanda Rochwick reads selections from her inspirational children’s book. 2 p.m. FREE! 706583-8647 LECTURES & LIT.: Belue to Scott! The Greatest Moment in Georgia Football History Reading (Borders Books & Music) Robbie Burns reads from his book on the classic 1980 Gerogia-Florida game that led the national championship. 3 p.m. FREE! 706-583-8647 GAMES: Full Contact Trivia (Amici Italian Café) Come test your knowledge! 9 p.m. FREE! 706-353-0000 GAMES: Trivia (Buffalo’s Southwest Café) Weekly Trivia! Students get 10 percent off with I.D. 7 p.m. FREE!

Monday 20 KIDSTUFF: Movie Night for Teens (Oconee County Library, Watkinsville) Teens are invited to watch the animated version of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Snacks!

6–8 p.m. FREE! 706-769-3950

KIDSTUFF: Jim Bette (Borders Books & Music) The local entrepreneur and children’s book author teaches children 6 years and older about how birds build nests, brood eggs and raise young chicks. 1 p.m.

FREE! 706-583-8647 KIDSTUFF: Children’s Storytime (ACC Library) For children ages 18 months to 5 years. Tuesdays, 9:30 a.m., Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m. FREE! 706-613-3650 KIDSTUFF: Holiday Hullabaloo (Parkview Community Center) Join in Parkview’s holiday celebration with cocoa, seasonal crafts, games and a sing-a-long led by the Parkview Songbirds. For children 12 and under. 5–6:30 p.m. $3. 706613-3601 KIDSTUFF: White Buffalo Christmas for Children (Buffalo’s Southwest Café) Buffalo’s has been on Santa’s nice list this year, so expect him in attendance at this holiday party! Call or stop by for more information! 6 p.m. FREE! 706248-2022 KIDSTUFF: Youth Christmas Party (Lay Park) Activities include a visit

KIDSTUFF: Children’s Storytime (ACC Library) For children ages 18 months to 5 years. Tuesdays, 9:30 a.m., Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m. FREE! 706-613-3650 KIDSTUFF: Homeschoolers Chapter Book Review (Madison County Library) Elementary schoolage homeschoolers gather at the library to read a book together and talk about it. Every Wednesday. 2 p.m. FREE! 706-795-5597 GAMES: Dart League and Game Night (Alibi) Meet up with other sharp-shooters. FREE! 706-5491010 GAMES: Poker Night (Buffalo’s Southwest Café) Texas Hold ‘Em every Wednesday. 18 and up. Sign in at 6:30 p.m. Dealing begins at 7:30 p.m. FREE! www.interstatepokerclub. com GAMES: Sports Trivia (Beef ‘O’ Brady’s) Every Wednesday. Win house cash and prizes! 8:30 p.m.

FREE! 706-850-1916 GAMES: Trivia (Copper Creek Brewing Company) Test your trivia chops for prizes! Every Wednesday.

9 p.m. FREE! 706-546-1102

Eat. Drink. Listen Closely.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 14 Terrapin Bluegrass Series featuring

3 BUCKS SHY

$3 admission • $2 Terrapin Pints All Night!

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16 Nomad Artists presents Ladies of Country Music featuring

ERICA SUNSHINE LEE, RACHEL FARLEY, JESSICA CAYNE URICK and BETSY FRANCK Tickets $5 adv. • $7 at the door

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17

RACK OF SPAM

Tickets $10 adv. • $13 at the door

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 19

Mike White · deadlydesigns.com

Camp Amped Scholarship Holiday Jam featuring

ATHENS BAND, THE SECOND SUNS, PLOTT, SHAMUS AND THE TATOR TOTS, BROKEN DOORS $5 Admission • Music starts at 7pm

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 26 Nomad Artists presents

RANDALL BRAMBLETT BAND Tickets $13 adv. • $18 at the door

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 28 Terrapin Bluegrass Series featuring

BORDERHOP TRIO $3 admission • $2 Terrapin Pints All Night!

Tunabunny is playing Farm 255 on Thursday, Dec. 16.

KIDSTUFF: Nature Trading Post (Sandy Creek Nature Center) Program intended to encourage personal nature exploration and raise awareness about ecological connections among young collectors. Participants earn points for their collected items (shells, rocks, animal bones, etc.). The points can be banked or used to trade for another object from the Nature Center’s Trading Post. Kids, bring an adult to participate! 11 a.m.–noon. FREE! 706-613-3615 KIDSTUFF: Snowflake Shuffle (Rocksprings Park) Holiday dance party for children 12 and under with cookie decorating, red and green face painting, Christmas Bingo and pictures with The Grinch, Santa and Mrs. Claus! 4–6 p.m. $3. 706-6133603, www.accleisureservices.com

Sunday 19 PERFORMANCE: Athens Master Chorale (St. Gregory the Great) The AMC celebrates the holiday season, performing the works of Rutter, Rachmaninoff, Byrd, Tavener and more. 4 p.m. FREE! www.athensmasterchorale.com

GAMES: 20 Questions with Chris Creech (Transmetropolitan, Downtown) General trivia that includes such topics as science, movies, music and sex! Prizes include $25 and $10 Transmet gift certificates. 9 p.m. FREE! 706-372-3949 GAMES: Beer Pong (Alibi) The classic tournament style game. 9 p.m.

FREE! 706-549-1010 GAMES: Ping Pong (Flicker Theatre & Bar) Get ready for a riveting round of table tennis. 4–8 p.m. FREE! www. myspace.com/flickerbar GAMES: Poker Night (Jack’s Bar) There’s a new game in town. 7:30 p.m. FREE! 912-604-8560 GAMES: Team Trivia (Beef ‘O’ Brady’s) Every Monday night. Bring your friends! 8:30 p.m. FREE! 706850-1916 GAMES: Trivia (Blind Pig Tavern) Think you know it all? 8 p.m. 706548-3442

Tuesday 21 EVENTS: Southern My Way (Borders Books & Music) Gena Knox shares her modern take on the region’s culinary specialties. 3 p.m.

FREE! 706-583-8647

from Santa, games, refreshments and goody bags. For ages 12 and under. 6–8 p.m. FREE! 706-6133596 MEETINGS: Sitting Meditation Group (Mind Body Institute) Silent meditation. 12:30 p.m. FREE! 706475-7329 GAMES: Locos Trivia (Locos Grill & Pub) All three Athens locations of Locos Grill and Pub (Westside, Eastside and Harris St.) feature trivia night every Tuesday. 8:30 p.m.

FREE! www.locosgrill.com GAMES: Trivia (Alibi) Find out what Visual Audio Trivia is! 8 p.m. FREE! 706-549-1010

Wednesday 22 EVENTS: Canine Cocktail Hour (Hotel Indigo, Madison Bar & Bistro Courtyard) Drink and food specials for you and your (well-behaved, non-aggressive, vaccinated) dog!

This week: salty dogs and greyhounds. Every Wednesday. 5–7 p.m. www.indigoathens.com EVENTS: Pre-Xmas Swap (Flicker Theatre & Bar) Bring your stuff to trade! 8:30 p.m. FREE! 706-5460039

GAMES: Trivia (Willy’s Mexicana Grill) Test your trivia knowledge for prizes every Wednesday! 8 p.m.

FREE! 706-548-1920 * Advance Tickets Available

Down the Line EVENTS: Nintendo Night 12/23 (Flicker Theatre & Bar) Play all the classics including Super Mario Bros, Donkey Kong and Legend of Zelda.

8:30 p.m. FREE! 706-546-0039 EVENTS: Post-Xmas Swap 12/29 (Flicker Theatre & Bar) Bring your unwanted gifts to trade! 8:30 p.m.

FREE! 706-546-0039 LECTURES & LIT.: Oconee Dems Book Group 12/29 (Five Points Deli & More, Epps Bridge) Community-wide book group. This month’s title is Juan Cole’s Engaging the Muslim World. Newcomers from any county and of any political affiliation are welcome. 6 p.m. FREE! patricia.priest@yahoo.com, www. oconeedemocrats.org MEETINGS: Mindfulness Practice Group 1/14 (Mind Body Institute) Beginners and experienced mindfulk continued on next page

$24.50 General Admission • Hotel and Dinner packages available by calling 706.549.7020

ON THE HORIZON SATURDAY, JANUARY 8

SWINGIN’ MEDALLIONS Tickets $18 adv. • $22 at the door

COMING SOON 1/13 - OLIVER WOOD and MICHAEL BELLARS AS-IS ENSEMBLE 1/14 - THE GHOST OF A SABER TOOTH TIGER (Sean Lennon & Charlotte Kemp Muhl) 1/18 - DAVID MAYFIELD PARADE 1/21 - MOTHER’S FINEST 1/22 - BLACK OAK ARKANSAS featuring JIM DANDY 1/27 - TERRY ADAMS (from NRBQ) ROCK AND ROLL QUARTET 1/28 - KINCHAFOONEE COWBOYS 1/29 - DAVE BARNES 2/11 - ABBEY ROAD LIVE! 2/22 - CAROLINA CHOCOLATE DROPS LOCATED ON 3/5 - DIRK HOWELL BAND THE GROUNDS OF 3/10 - COLIN HAY Solo Show

295 E. DOUGHERTY ST., ATHENS, GA

706.254.6909

WWW.MELTINGPOINTATHENS.COM

FOR TICKETS & SHOWTIMES OR CALL THE BOX OFFICE 706.254.6909

DECEMBER 15, 2010 · FLAGPOLE.COM

27

THE CALENDAR! ness practitioners welcome. Meets the second Friday of each month.

5:30 p.m. FREE! 706-475-7329 KIDSTUFF: Nature Trading Post 1/15 (Sandy Creek Nature Center) Program intended to encourage personal nature exploration and raise awareness about ecological connections among young collectors. Participants earn points for their collected items (shells, rocks, animal bones, etc.). The points can be banked or used to trade for another object from the Nature Center’s Trading Post. Kids, bring an adult to participate! 11 a.m.–noon. FREE! 706-613-3615 OUTDOORS: Naturalist Walk 1/15 (Sandy Creek Nature Center) Join SCNC staff for a walk around the property. 10–11 a.m. FREE! 706613-3615 LECTURES & LIT.: Talking about Books 1/19 (ACC Library, Small Conference Room) This month’s title is Olive Kitteredge by Elizabeth Strout. Newcomers welcome. 10:30 a.m. FREE! 706-613-3650 EVENTS: 3rd Annual Chilly Dawg 5K 1/29 (Sandy Creek Park) Run or walk your way to the finish on paved paths throughout the park.

Proceeds benefit the College of Family and Consumer Sciences Alumni Association and the ARCH Foundation of UGA. 9 a.m. $20.

706-542-3386, www.active.com * Advance Tickets Available

Live Music Tuesday 14 Alibi 9 p.m. FREE! 706-549-1010 KARAOKE With the Singing Cowboy!

Caledonia Lounge 10 p.m. $5 (21+), $7 (18+). www.caledonialounge.com SCOTT LOW AND MARK CUNNINGHAM Locals Scott Low of Efren and Mark Cunningham of Burning Angels team up for an evening of Americana.

Farm 255 11 p.m. FREE! www.farm255.com WOODFANGS Grungy, lo-fi psychedelic pop.

Flicker Theatre & Bar 8:30 p.m. $5. www.myspace.com/ flickerbar JUSTIN EVANS Local musician with a rich, deep voice who sings about hard drinkin’, fast women and country roads. Evans incorporates elements of old-time fiddle, New Orleans jazz, blues and some Americana.

JEREMY WHEATLEY You may have seen Jeremy Wheatley perform as a member of Tin Cup Prophette, The Low Lows and Je Suis France. His solo shows feature warm, endearing ballads accompanied by guitar.

Go Bar 10 p.m. www.myspace.com/gobar EX-HUMANS This New York band features Josh Martin of Atlanta punk band The Carbonas.

THE STARTER KITS This local band sounds a bit like a Southern Elvis Costello with a slight punk snarl.

Hendershot’s Coffee Bar 8 p.m. FREE! 1560 Oglethorpe Ave. NO SHAME! Open mic hosted by Rose of Athens Theatre.

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continued from p. 27

Little Kings Shuffle Club 10 p.m. www.myspace.com/littlekingsshuffleclub AMERICAN CHEESEBURGER Athens four-piece that boasts former members of No!, Divorce and Carrie Nations, delivering rapid-fire, loud and aggressive old-school thrash rock. Fronted by Jeff Rapier (ex-The Dumps).

CANADIAN RIFLE Punk rock trio from Chicago who recently recorded a split 7” with American Cheeseburger.

DJS RANDY AND LOZO Spinning punk rock!

HOT BREATH Thrash trio featuring members of experimental local acts Garbage Island and S.V.A. The Max Canada 10 p.m. FREE! 706-254-3392 MISFORTUNE500 Moody and melodic local band with soaring anthemic moments influenced by post-punk and ‘80s new wave.

THE RESTORATION Orchestral pop music from Lexington, SC with prominent, earnest vocals setting off string arrangements.

The Melting Point “Terrapin Bluegrass Series.” 7 p.m. $3. www.meltingpointathens.com 3 BUCKS SHY This ensemble plays “bluegrass PLUS.” That is, bluegrass “plus any music we dadburn feel like playing.”

New Earth Music Hall 8 p.m. FREE! (21 & up) $2 (under 21). www.newearthmusichall.com POETIC SOUL Mon2 and Buddah host an open-mic for poets, singers and other soulful types. Every Tuesday.

Rye Bar 10 p.m. FREE! www.myspace.com/ ryebarathens GHETTO MEZRAB Local experimental jazz jams with an extra dose of funk.

WUOG 90.5FM 5–10 p.m. FREE! www.wuog.org “WUOG CHRISTMAS BREAK LOBBYFEST” Dead Dog, Lexie, Gnarx and Cold Ones will perform on the college radion station’s miniseries of break radio performances.

Listen over the air or drop by the station to watch!

Wednesday 15 Caledonia Lounge 10 p.m. $5 (21+), $7 (18+). www.caledonialounge.com ENTROPIC CONSTANT Lo-fi dischordance and sprightly melodies from near Athens with some constant clanging thrown in.

TEALVOX Alternative rock band with a hint of classic British rock.

WITNESS THE APOTHEOSIS Athens-based darkwave-industrial duo blending dark vocals and moving cello with hard-hitting electronic music.

Go Bar “Candice’s Ke$ha-themed Going Away Party!” 10 p.m. www.myspace.com/ gobar TWIN POWERS DJ Dan Geller (Gold Party, The Agenda) and friends spin late-night glam rock, new wave, Top 40, punk and Britpop.

Hendershot’s Coffee Bar 8 p.m. FREE! 1560 Oglethorpe Ave. CARL LINDBERG Jazz bassist Carl Lindberg (Grogus, Squat, Kenosha Kid, etc.) performs standards, originals and some surprising tunes from divergent styles.

Highwire Lounge 8–11 p.m. FREE! 706-583-8510 KENOSHA KID Centered around the instru-improv jazz compositions of guitarist Dan Nettles, Kenosha Kid’s music borrows freely from multiple sources and hammers it all into a seamless product glistening with inspiration.

Last Call 9 p.m.–1 a.m. FREE! For more info contact dg2003@yahoo.com SPICY SALSA DANCING Lessons begin at 9 p.m. and dancing starts at 10 p.m. No partner or experience required.

The Office Lounge 9:30 p.m. FREE! 706-549-0840 KARAOKE Every Wednesday with Lynn, the Queen of Karaoke!

Rye Bar 10 p.m. FREE! www.myspace.com/ ryebarathens MAX EVE Lawrenceville act whose songs consist of ambient, cinematic tones.

Terrapin Beer Co. 5:30 p.m. FREE! www.terrapinbeer.com JAKE WADDELL No info available.

Thursday 16 Alibi 9 p.m. FREE! 706-549-1010 OLD SKOOL DJ Dance party!

Caledonia Lounge 10 p.m. $5 (21+), $7 (18+). www.caledonialounge.com THE BROS. MARLER Twin guitar siblings Daniel and Drew Marler perform original compositions of rock, R&B and blues standards as an acoustic duo.

MATT INDIGO Dreamy soundcapes filled with guitar and synth loops and rooted in Southern blues and rock.

LOVE TRACTOR Original Love Tractor member Mike Richmond recruited Nathan Collins on drums, Kevin Fleming on guitar, and Jarred Forrester on bass to round out his new lineup. The album Black Hole features spacey and compelling, prog-influenced guitar epics.

Farm 255 “Primals Night.” 9 p.m. FREE! www. farm255.com JAKE MOWRER QUARTET Classic and contemporary jazz originals and rarely heard “standards.”

Diverse Universe 6 & 8 p.m. $5. 706-540-7803 SMOOTH JAZZ AFTER WORK PARTY New location same great sounds. Featuring house band Muzik, with Ron Brown (bass), Darius Carter (keys, drums), Antonio Bennett (sax) and JR (drums) plus special guests. Hosted by DJ Segar from the Segar Jazz Affair on WXAG. Every Thursday.

Flicker Theatre & Bar 8:30 p.m. $5. www.myspace.com/ flickerbar JESS MARSTON Singer/guitarist from local rock band Romanenko plays solo.

DAVID ZACHARY No info available.

Farm 255 11 p.m. FREE! www.farm255.com NUTRITIONAL PEACE New local “vegan ambient” duo featuring Jeff Tobias and Amy Whisenhunt.

TUNABUNNY Local act featuring hazy and warped experimental psychede-

FLAGPOLE.COM ∙ DECEMBER 15, 2010

Friday, December 17

Strung Out Like the Lights at Christmastime Empty Stocking Fund Benefit The Office Lounge Glee be to many children this year as Dodd Ferrelle recruits his friends in charitable grooving once again. The second annual Strung Out Like the Lights at Christmastime benefit concert for The Empty Stocking Fund is all Curley Maple set for Friday night at the Office Lounge.

Last year, Ferrelle gathered a handful of local musicians and raised over $1,300 for The Empty Stocking Fund, an Atlanta-based charity that provides Christmas gifts for underprivileged children. Last year the fund gave gifts to over 50,000 kids.

Additionally, Ferrelle says, “This fund also helps someone in our city pay a light bill or stay in their apartment or home or buy groceries for their kids every day, and I want to be a part of that as long as I am here,” says Ferrelle.

Many of the musicians playing Friday are associated with the Athens Music Collective, which means a lot of intermingling between acts, and what is certain to be a fun and familiar atmosphere. “There is no divide between performer and fan, which is the way a benefit should be. The community working together as one,” says Ferrelle.

Ferrelle’s own band will play, as well as Romper Stompers, the kid-friendly and childhood-influenced side project featuring Todd Nance (Widespread Panic), Danny Hutchens (Bloodkin) and William Tonks. Local Southern rock luminaries Bloodkin will play along with Workhorses of the Entertainment/Recreational Industry, Curley Maple and The Welfare Liners, and there will be band collaborations between David Barbe, John Neff, Jon Mills, Frank MacDonell, Clay Leverett, Betsy Franck and many more. Ferrelle hopes to double the amount raised last year in this family-holiday-party-cum-benefit concert that ensues when these friends get together.

“I want people that are trying hard and just can’t make ends meet to know that the people of this city and this city’s musicians, in particular, are there for them year in and year out.” [Sydney Slotkin]

lia. Dual female guitarist/vocalists are backed by synthesized percussion and a wall of noise.

Gnat’s Landing 6:30 p.m. FREE! 706-850-5858 NEXT BEST FRIEND Hook-heavy acoustic rock and pop covers and originals.

Go Bar 10 p.m. www.myspace.com/gobar DR. FRED’S KARAOKE Hosted by karaoke fanatic John “Dr. Fred” Bowers.

UNPLANNED PREGNANCIES Politically minded metal/punk.

Hendershot’s Coffee Bar 8 p.m. FREE! 706-353-3050 DAVE D’ANGELO QUARTET Straightahead jazz.

Hotel Indigo “Live After 5 on the Madison Patio.” 6 p.m. FREE! www.indigoathens.com MARK MAXWELL Jazz musician plays tracks off his Christmas album.

Little Kings Shuffle Club 10 p.m. www.myspace.com/littlekingsshuffleclub DIS-TASTE-R “A new punk band that the kids like,” says the group. With a nasty, fuzzy synth on the low end and Bowie-like vocals, there’s more to it than that.

OCTA P. A. Side solo project from Mark Opel of The Savoir Faire and Golden Gates.

SMOKE DOG Local guys Thom Strickland (vocals, guitar) and Jason Jones (drums) play a noisy motorik pulse with treated guitar. Says Jones, “noisy lo-fi boogie smeared over mechanical back-pocket beats.”

THE SUBLIMINATOR Combining spoken-word poetry with experimental music, this one-man show from Atlanta backs his sometimes heavily

processed words with sounds created from AirSynths, effects pedals and loops.

The Max Canada 6-9:30 p.m. FREE! 706-254-3392 AARON BERG & THE HEAVY LOVE Soulful bluesy folk reminiscent of Bob Dylan or Tom Waits.

EUREKA CALIFORNIA Melodic, guitar-driven indie rock influenced by bands like Guided by Voices.

GREG & GEORGE Members of riffheavy bluesy rock band Shallow Palace play a stripped down set.

The Melting Point 9 p.m. $5 (adv.), $7 (door). www.meltingpointathens.com NOMAD ARTISTS PRESENTS: LADIES OF COUNTRY MUSIC This performance will be “in the round” format with each songwriter performing in turn, featuring Erica Sunshine Lee, Rachel Farley, Jessica Cayne Urick and Betsy Franck.

New Earth Music Hall “Hip Hop Dance Party.” www.newearthmusichall.com WILDKARD This Athens hip-hop group boasts a guitar player and melodic, danceable tracks.

No Where Bar 10 p.m. 706-546-4742 RICK WILLIAMS’ BLUES OLYMPICS Reviving a traditon from the mid-2000s, Rick Williams, Steven Simmons, Betsy Franck, Scott LeonO’Day and others will have a Blues Olympics and Jam where a myriad of musicians bring their best.

The Pub at Gameday 10:30 p.m. FREE! 706-353-2831 HOLY LIARS This four-piece tends towards blue-collar rock, not unlike Uncle Tupelo or the cow-punkier moments of Social Distortion.

Rye Bar 10 p.m. www.myspace.com/ryebarathens JET W. LEE Nineties-influenced alternative rock with jangly guitars and earnest vocals. The band names Hüsker Dü and Neil Young as influences.

THIEVES MARKET Local alternative rock band.

Terrapin Beer Co. 5:30 p.m. FREE! www.terrapinbeer.com PHOLKSINGER JOSH A blend of traditional folk music with old-time, country and blues influences.

Lyrically his original tunes touch on everything from social activisim to forlorn love.

Friday 17 Alibi “Naughty or Nice Christmas Party.” 8 p.m. FREE! 706-549-1010 SOUTHERN SOUL Lively rock, funk and new covers plus originals.

The Bad Manor 9 p.m. FREE! (21+), $5 (18+). www. thebadmanor.com DJ KID CEDEK Electro beats with dancehall sensibilities from Atlanta.

Borders Books & Music 6:30 p.m. FREE! 706-583-8647 THE SOLSTICE SISTERS Threepart vocal harmonies from Maggie Hunter (host of WUGA’s “Just Folks”), Susan Staley (who organizes the monthly Hoot) and Anna Durden. Tonight performing holiday songs in their style of old-time country ballads, ‘40s swing and traditional folk.

Caledonia Lounge 10 p.m. $5 (21+), $7 (18+). www.caledonialounge.com SAVE GRAND CANYON Emotional and dynamic, this tenderfoot local

band plays what it calls “organic alt-rock.”

TASTES LIKE GOOD Rock with improvisational leanings plus covers.

Farm 255 11 p.m. FREE! www.farm255.com MOTHS Featuring Jacob Morris of Ham1, Moths plays a mostly acoustic sort of ‘70s folk-rock with a pop sensibility and an inevitable psychedelic tinge.

Flicker Theatre & Bar 8:30 p.m. $5. www.myspace.com/ flickerbar RUBY KENDRICK Toy piano and light drums lend an added punch to already solid acoustic folk tunes from Athens.

THAYER SARRANO Local singersongwriter and multi-instrumentalist with lovely, airy vocals singing dark, gentle melodies over guitar while backed by lap steel, bass and drums.

You may have also seen her onstage with of Montreal playing piano.

40 Watt Club “40 Watt Christmas Party.” 8 p.m. $5 (21+), $7 (18+). www.40watt.com ATHENS Young local rockers ranging in age from 11-15, with classic rock influences.

FIVE EIGHT This totally wired, nearlegendary Athens rock trio has consistently pumped out boisterous rock and roll that’s not too complicated but overwhelmingly satisfying.

THE ORKIDS Polished local electropop group with alternating male/ female vocals and super-hooky refrains.

VICTOR CHARLIE Alt-rock with grunge and metal influences. See Calendar Pick on p. 28.

Gnat’s Landing 6:30 p.m. FREE! 706-850-5858 NATHAN SHEPPARD The local acoustic guitarist-harmonicist is known for his emotive singing style and his modern reworkings of classic tunes.

Go Bar 9 p.m. www.myspace.com/gobar BIG HUG LITTLE KISS Randy Newman-embracing old time country anthems that, in turn, embrace you. Members of Bang Utot, Shithead and Stegosaurus.

DJ MAHOGANY Freaky funk, sultry soul, righteous R&B and a whole lotta unexpected faves.

GREEN GERRY Particularly dreamlike and subtly electronic local artist.

STEGOSAURUS Usually witty, sometimes danceable and always raw.

Featuring members of Bang-Utot, Big Hug Little Kiss, Shithead.

Hendershot’s Coffee Bar 8 p.m. FREE! 706-353-3050 HEATHER LUTRELL Atlanta singer with a strong country tilt that manifests itself in the traditional instrumentation that sometimes accompanies Lutrell’s acoustic tunes.

Little Kings Shuffle Club 10 p.m. Bring a can to get in! www. myspace.com/littlekingsshuffleclub BITCHSWITCH CHRISTMAS Your all-star lady DJ team spins thick dance grooves while collecting cans for their annual drive benefiting the food bank.

The Melting Point 9 p.m. $10 (adv.), $13 (door). www. meltingpointathens.com RACK OF SPAM This regional eightpiece group got its start here in Athens in 1981; with three decades in the business, the group’s Detroitstyle R&B and blue-eyed soul still sounds powerful.

New Earth Music Hall 9 p.m. $18 (adv.), $20 (door). www. newearthmusichall.com CONSPIRATOR Rave electronic music from Philadelphia.

GREENHOUSE LOUNGE Electronica-heavy dub from Florida with deep bass pulses and spaceage, video game sound effects.

TWO FRESH Electronic hip-hop meets jazz.

The Office Lounge 7 p.m. $5 (donation).706-546-0840 STRUNG OUT LIKE THE LIGHTS AT CHRISTMASTIME Benefit concert for The Empty Stocking Fund, a charity that helps provide Christmas gifts for families living below the poverty level. Acts include Betsy Franck, Clay Leverett, Workhorses of the Entertainment/Recreational Industry, Curley Maple, Dodd Ferrelle, David Barbe, Todd Nance, John Neff, Jon Mills, Frank MacDonell, Bo Bedingfield, Romper Stompers, Bloodkin, Welfare Liners and more! See Calendar Pick on p. 26.

Rye Bar 10 p.m. FREE! www.myspace.com/ ryebarathens EDDIE AND THE PUBLIC SPEAKERS Local blues-funk trio.

JUNK Keys, bass and drums trio with an emphasis on jazz fusion and group improvisation.

Terrapin Beer Co. 5:30 p.m. www.terrapinbeer.com ILLICITIZEN Quirky indie-rock duo swinging from cabaret-folk to postpunk to jangy alt-pop.

283 Bar 9 p.m. FREE! 706-208-1283 WINTER WEDDING PARTY Celebrate the season in your finest wedding wear. Sing along to the yacht rock hits of “The Wedding Band” (including members of Gift Horse, Kuroma and Dreamdogs). Late night DJ set with Immuzikation! Holiday cocktails, champagne, cake, garters and bouquets!

WUOG 90.5FM 5–10 p.m. FREE! www.wuog.org “WUOG CHRISTMAS BREAK LOBBYFEST” Tunabunny and Antlered Aunt Lord will perform on the college radion station’s miniseries of break radio performances.

Listen over the air or drop by the station to watch!

Saturday 18 Alibi 9 p.m. FREE! 706-549-1010 KARAOKE With the Singing Cowboy!

Athens Farmers’ Market 10 a.m.–12 p.m. FREE! www.athensfarmersmarket.net THE SOLSTICE SISTERS Threepart vocal harmonies from Maggie Hunter (host of WUGA’s “Just Folks”), Susan Staley (who organizes the monthly Hoot) and Anna Durden. Performing a variety of oldtime country ballads, ‘40s swing and traditional folk.

The Bad Manor 9 p.m. FREE! (21+), $5 (18+). www. thebadmanor.com DJ SIFI This DJ’s selection runs from rap and hip-hop to rock and country.

DJRX DJ-remixer Brian Gonzalez delivers original mixes of mainly current pop with forays into rock, old school, country and electronica.

COME BY THE STUDIO

OPEN DAILY!

celebrating 20 years!

285 W. Washington St. Athens, GA • Call 706-549-7871 for Show Updates

CHEAP DRINK SPECIALS EVERY NIGHT BEFORE 11PM • 18 + UP

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17

40 WATT HOLIDAY PARTY

with FIVE EIGHT • THE ATHENS BAND THE ORKIDS • VICTOR CHARLIE doors open at 8pm

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18

LIVING THE DREAM: JON GUTHRIE TRIBuTE

handmade southern pottery

KARBOmB • BuRNS LIKE FIRE THuNDERCHIEF • SO IT GOES CHOpTOp • FREE mOuNTAIN mICHAEL GuTHRIE BAND THE ARCS • LOVE TRACTOR KATHy KIRBO • THE ATHENS BAND RICK FOwLER BAND SETH HENDERSHOT BROS mARLER • CuRLEy mApLE GABRIELA mEjIAS • SLEEpER yEARS doors open at 6pm

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 28

CRAIG’S BIRTHDAY BASH GARBAGE ISLAND DON CHAmBERS + GOAT FREE mOuNTAIN • RICER

% 20 OFF any one item

doors open at 9pm

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31

OF

good through December 2010

NYE Party!

MONTREAL yIp DECEIVER doors open at 8pm*

THREE NIGHTS!

450 Georgia Dr. • Athens, GA 706-613-8525 can’t make it to the sale? we are open daily or you can visit us at

www.rwoodstudio.com

DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS THURSDAY, JANUARY 13 DBT pLAyING 2 SETS! w/ THE 2ND SONS doors open at 8pm*

FRIDAY, JANUARY 14

DBT w/ DON CHAmBERS + GOAT HENRy BARBE doors open at 8pm*

NUÇI’S SPACE BENEFIT

SATURDAY, JANUARY 15 DBT w/ DAVID BARBE & THE QuICK HOOKS THE CAmp AmpED BAND doors open at 8pm*

COMING SOON: FRIDAY, JANUARY 21

DEAD CONFEDERATE

GEORGIA THEATRE PRESENTS

KuROmA • BAmBARA • RuBy* All Shows 18 and up • + $2 for Under 21 * Advance Tix Available at Schoolkids Records ** Advance Tix Sold at http://www.40watt.com

k continued on next page

DECEMBER 15, 2010 · FLAGPOLE.COM

29

’s R U O Y P SHO

AOTFFH!

WHEN YOU SHOP AT AN INDEPENDENTLY OWNED BUSINESS, YOUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY BENEFITS:

THE ECONOMY

THE CALENDAR! Borders Books & Music 3 p.m. FREE! 706-583-8647 DR. IAN JOHNSON Local musician plays easy listening jazz on two keyboards to emulate a jazz band sound.

6 p.m. FREE! 706-583-8647 THE KEANE FAMILY John, Paige and Rachel Keane sing lively Christmas favorites.

Caledonia Lounge 10 p.m. $5 (21+), $7 (18+). www.caledonialounge.com FULTURN JONES Atlanta band playing propulsive alt-rock with prominent distorted guitars and straight-forward vocal melodies.

LULLWATER This local rock band offers high energy and solid melodies that pull from both alternative music and acoustic folk.

The Elbert Theatre 7 p.m. $12. www.elberttheatre.org ERICA SUNSHINE LEE The Elberton native and singer-songwriter Erica Lee performs with her band. Lee’s strong voice stands out on polished, original country songs.

Farm 255 11 p.m. FREE! www.farm255.com THE DARNELL BROTHERS The three Darnell brothers play and sing country blues originals backed by upright bass, singing saw and junk yard percussion.

I WANT WHISKEY Multiinstrumentalist solo act from Atlanta offering original songs and innovative covers.

Flicker Theatre & Bar 8:30 p.m. FREE! www.myspace.com/ flickerbar A HOT SHIT COUNTRY CHRISTMAS Featuring Matt Hudgins and his Shit-Hot Country Band.

Xmas Party with Five Eight, Athens, The Orkids, Victor Charlie

THE ENVIROMENT

40 Watt Club

THE COMMUNITY

• Local retailers are your friends and neighbors - support them and they’ll support you.

• Local businesses donate to charities at more than twice the rate of national chains.

• More independents means more choice, more diversity, and a truly unique community. (from www.indiebound.org)

SEE PAGE 39 FOR THE WINNERS OF THIS YEAR’S SHOP YOUR ATH OFF! LOCAL BUSINESS GIFT CERTIFICATES 30

FLAGPOLE.COM ∙ DECEMBER 15, 2010

40 Watt Club “Living The Dream: Jon Guthrie Tribute Show.” 6 p.m. $8. www.40watt.com LIVING THE DREAM: JON GUTHRIE TRIBUTE SHOW A tribute to Athens’ much-missed bass player Jon Guthrie. Performances from Karbomb, Burns Like Fire, Thunderchief, So it Goes, Choptop, Free Mountain, Michael Guthrie Band, Love Tractor, The Arcs, Kathy Kirbo, Chris McKay, The Athens Band, Rick Fowler Band, Seth Hendershot, Bros. Marler, Curley Maple, Gabriela Mejias and Sleeper Years. See story on p. 23.

Go Bar 10 p.m. www.myspace.com/gobar EVERYMEN Florida punk that mixes mandolin and banjo into its brusque, bar-room sound.

GRAPE SODA Local band featuring the brothers Lewis (Mat and Ryan, also of The Agenda), on vocals, organ and drums, playing reverbheavy garage psych-rock.

IMMUZIKATION Celebrated local DJ Alfredo Lapuz, Jr. mashes up highenergy electro and rock.

TWIN POWERS DJ Dan Geller (Gold Party, The Agenda) and friends spin late-night glam rock, new wave, Top 40, punk and Britpop.

YE OLDE SUB SHOPPE Big-hearted pop played on tiny instruments.

Little Kings Shuffle Club 10 p.m. $5. www.myspace.com/littlekingsshuffleclub DAWGS-A-LOOSE This act features the father of local country songwriter Kaitlin Jones.

KAITLIN JONES AND THE COUNTY FAIR Local folk guitarist/ vocalist Kaitlin Jones’ five-piece electric band performs a set of Americana-tinged country originals.

TIMBER Frontman Daniel Aaron serves up his brand of hangover country rock.

New Earth Music Hall 9 p.m. www.newearthmusichall.com SOUL SPECTACULAR DANCE PARTY PART II Dance the night away with classic garage rock, surf and soul.

OCAF 7-9 p.m. FREE! www.ocaf.com THE NEW HOTS JAZZ ORCHESTRA This 8–15 piece “Little Big Ensemble” boasts a wide repetoire that spans the ‘20s, ‘30s and ‘40s, touching on ragtime, classic swing and Jazz Age standards.

The Office Lounge 6 p.m. FREE! 706-546-0840 SHORTBUS ALLSTARS The guys in this local mob play blues-rock, incorporating standard numbers into their set of original tunes.

Rye Bar 10 p.m. FREE! www.myspace.com/ ryebarathens ELI TRUETT BAND Tuneful singing and melodic guitar lines vie for attention in this local group—at times understated, at times anthemic.

VINCENT THE DOG Athens rock power trio informed by classic rock, blues, funk, jazz, hard rock and progressive rock.

Terrapin Beer Co. 5:30 p.m. FREE! www.terrapinbeer.com OPERATION EXPERIMENTATION This Lawrenceville-based rock band plays bluesy jams with poppy vocals.

WUOG 90.5FM 4–9 p.m. FREE! www.wuog.org “WUOG CHRISTMAS BREAK LOBBYFEST” Green Gerry, Pretty Birds and Muuy Biien will perform on the college radion station’s mini-series of break radio

Friday, December 17

• “Multiple Studies have shown each dollar spent at local independent businesses, on average, generates at least three times more direct local economic benefit than dollars spent at an absentee-owned chain.” (from amiba.net) • Local businesses create higher-paying jobs for our neighbors.

• More of your taxes are reinvested in your community - where they belong.

• Buying local means less packaging, less transportation, and a smaller carbon footprint.

• Shopping in a local business district means less infrastructure, less maintenance, and more money to beautify your community.

Saturday, Dec. 18 continued from p. 29

An unmarked and not recently maintained gravel road climbs a hill still quite Victor Charlie covered in green and healthy kudzu despite the late November date. On top of the hill, there’s a cell phone tower, and in its shadow the most interesting practice space in Athens. Drums rumble and bass lines threaten to splinter the wood paneling. A disaffected guitar accompanies a disarming roar. It’s the sound of Victor Charlie, an intense, military-industrial rock trio featuring guitarist/vocalist Charlie Garland, bassist Clay Hinson and drummer Mark Turiano, marching into battle with a blue-collar chug.

For their recent run with Five Eight which included stops throughout the Southeast, the band pressed a pair of tour EPs: Catalog Dreaming and Get Bent. Each features the same track list. Yes, the titles and album art are the only differences.

Sharing the stage with Five Eight is a big deal for Garland. He first saw them at a club called Sluggo’s in his hometown of Pensacola.

“They had a little three-piece… Dan [Horowitz] was playing fretless and Mike [Mantione] had Stratocasters and Fender twins, and it was really amazing—and then Mike got naked at the end, and he was totally nude all over Sluggo’s; he had socks on. Even though he did all that, the music still was what got to me. All the nakedness and all his little antics and all that—I bought into it—but the music and what he was throwing at me was what I really bought into, and I was a huge fan ever since. At that moment I realized, ‘Hey, maybe I could do this one day, later on.’”

Joining Victor Charlie and their heroes, Five Eight, at the 40 Watt Xmas Party are local electropop band The Orkids and wunderkinds Athens. [David Eduardo]

Sunday 19

Tuesday 21

Borders Books & Music 4 p.m. FREE! 706-583-8647 NANCY HEIGES AND LAVON SMITH Local songstresses collaborate on original, harmonic, crooning melodies, this time with some holiday faves thrown in.

Alibi 9 p.m. FREE! 706-549-1010 KARAOKE With the Singing Cowboy!

Farm 255 9 p.m. FREE! www.farm255.com MATT HUDGINS AND HIS SHITHOT COUNTRY BAND Classic country and honky tonk.

The Melting Point 7 p.m. $5. www.meltingpointathens. com CAMP AMPED HOLIDAY SHOWCASE The Camp Amped AfterSchool Program at Nuçi’s Space presents a night of music arranged in original styles and performed by campers. The all-ages show will feature The Athens Band, The Second Suns, Seamus and the Tator Tots, Broken Doors, Plott and more. Not to be missed, these kids are talented!

WUOG 90.5FM 4–9 p.m. FREE! www.wuog.org “WUOG CHRISTMAS BREAK LOBBYFEST” Tolstoy Serenades, The Once-Ler and Hundred Handed Giants will perform on the college radion station’s mini-series of break radio performances. Listen over the air or drop by the station to watch!

Monday 20 Alibi 9 p.m. FREE! 706-549-1010 KARAOKE With the Singing Cowboy!

Borders Books & Music 7 p.m. FREE! 706-583-8647 THE HILL CHAPEL BAPTIST CHURCH CHOIR Under the direction of Greg Hull, the group will share their powerful voices and a holiday message.

Dog Ear Books 8 p.m. 706-818-0976 GOODBYE BLUE MONDAY OPEN MIC Open mic for singer-songwriters. Cash prize for the night’s best act, as decided by audience vote.

Go Bar 10 p.m. www.myspace.com/gobar DJ MAHOGANY’S QUIET STORM Spinning R&B slow jams all night.

Hendershot’s Coffee Bar 8 p.m. FREE! 706-353-3050 OPEN MIC FACE OFF Hosted by Kyshona Armstrong.

Little Kings Shuffle Club 8 p.m. www.myspace.com/littlekingsshuffleclub LITTLE KINGS HOLIDAY PARTY Come party like it’s Dec. 25 with local Americana artists Daniel Aaron, Kaitlin Jones, Justin Evans, Lera Lynn, Betsy Franck, Holly Belle and more.

Rye Bar 9:30 p.m. FREE! www.myspace.com/ ryebarathens OPEN MIC Every Monday! Sign up between 8:30 & 9:30 p.m.

Ten Pins Tavern 8:30 p.m. FREE! 706-540-1831 OPEN MIC Tom Eisenbraun hosts a weekly open mic featuring drink

Down the Line

Terrapin Beer Co. 5:30 p.m. FREE! www.terrapinbeer.com ANGWISH Hook-oriented power pop that bears a passing resemblance to R.E.M. and other college radio fare.

12/23 Old Skool DJ (Alibi) 12/23 Dr. Fred’s Karaoke (Go Bar) 12/23 Christmas with the King (Buffalo’s Southwest Café) 12/23 Smooth Jazz After Work Party (Diverse Universe) 12/23 Kreutzmas! Happy Birthday Eli (Little Kings Shuffle Club) 12/23 Alexa Woodward (Terrapin Beer Co.) 12/24 Dr. Fred’s Christmas Eve Karaoke (Go Bar) 12/25 Karaoke (Alibi) 12/26 Randall Bramblett Band (The Melting Point) 12/27 Twin Powers (Go Bar) 12/27 Open Mic (Ten Pins Tavern) 12/28 Poetic Soul (New Earth Music Hall) 12/28 Craig’s Birthday Bash (40 Watt Club) 12/28 Kenosha Kid (Highwire Lounge) 12/28 Joe Fletcher and the Wrong Reasons / Muletide Perkins / Scott Low and Friends (The Max Canada) 12/28 Borderhop Trio (The Melting Point) 12/29 Jack Jiggles (The Manhattan Café) 12/30 DJ Baby Pandas / DJ Strawberry Julius (Little Kings Shuffle Club) 12/30 Harp Unstrung (Go Bar) 12/30 Dubconscious 2.0 / Glitch Mob (New Earth Music Hall) 12/31 Dirty Mind / Twin Powers (Go Bar) 12/31 DJ Mahogany (Little Kings Shuffle Club) 12/31 DJ Murphsauce / New Year’s Eve Throwdown (283 Bar) 12/31 of Montreal / Yip Deceiver (40 Watt Club) 12/31 Free Mountain / Incendiaries / Pride Parade (Caledonia Lounge) 12/31 Quiet Hooves (Farm 255) 12/31 Dubconscious 2.0 / Glitch Mob (New Earth Music Hall) 12/31 The Highballs (The Melting Point) 1/1 8-Track Gorilla / The Humms / Immuzikation / Dexter Romweber / Twin Powers (Go Bar) 1/2 “WUOG Christmas Break Lobbyfest” (WUOG 90.5FM) 1/4 “WUOG Christmas Break Lobbyfest” (WUOG 90.5FM) 1/7 Mixer (New Earth Music Hall) 1/7 “WUOG Christmas Break Lobbyfest” (WUOG 90.5FM) 1/8 Swingin Medallions (The Melting Point) 1/8 “WUOG Christmas Break Lobbyfest” (WUOG 90.5FM) 1/9 “WUOG Christmas Break Lobbyfest” (WUOG 90.5FM) 1/13 Drive-By Truckers / The Second Sons (40 Watt Club) 1/13 Oliver Wood (The Melting Point) 1/14 Bonobo (New Earth Music Hall) 1/14 Henry Barbe / Don Chambers + GOAT / Drive-By Truckers (40 Watt Club) 1/14 Trevor Finlay / Brian Ashley Jones / Ken Will Morton (Flicker Theatre & Bar) 1/14 The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger (The Melting Point) 1/15 The Camp Amped Band / David Barbe & The Quick Hooks / Drive-By Truckers (40 Watt Club) 1/20 Papadosio / Up Until Now (New Earth Music Hall) 1/21 Bambara / Dead Confederate / Ruby Kendrick / Kuroma (40 Watt Club) 1/21 Mother’s Finest (The Melting Point)

* Advance Tickets Available

* Advance Tickets Available

Go Bar 10 p.m. www.myspace.com/gobar 8-TRACK GORILLA Fun, karaokestyle covers covered in primal fur.

Tonight the ape apes Bowie, peforming the album Low. TWIN POWERS’ ENGLISH DISCO DJ Dan Geller (Gold Party, The Agenda) and friends spin late-night glam, punk and Britpop.

Hendershot’s Coffee Bar 8 p.m. FREE! 1560 Oglethorpe Ave. NO SHAME! Open mic hosted by Rose of Athens Theatre.

Highwire Lounge 8–11 p.m. FREE! 706-583-8510 KENOSHA KID Centered around the instru-improv jazz compositions of guitarist Dan Nettles, Kenosha Kid’s music borrows freely from multiple sources and hammers it all into a seamless product glistening with inspiration.

New Earth Music Hall 8 p.m. FREE! (21 & up) $2 (under 21). www.newearthmusichall.com POETIC SOUL Mon2 and Buddah host an open-mic for poets, singers and other soulful types. Every Tuesday.

Rye Bar 10 p.m. FREE! www.myspace.com/ ryebarathens GHETTO MEZRAB Local experimental jazz jams with an extra dose of funk.

WUOG 90.5FM 5-10 p.m. FREE! www.wuorg.org “WUOG CHRISTMAS BREAK LOBBYFEST” Stegosaurus, Big Hug Little Kiss, and Skoene Oke will perform on the college radion station’s mini-series of break radio performances. Listen over the air or drop by the station to watch!

Wednesday 22 Go Bar 10 p.m. www.myspace.com/gobar DJ MAHOGANY Freaky funk, sultry soul, righteous R&B and a whole lotta unexpected faves.

The Manhattan Café “Jazz Giggles with Jack Jiggles.” 9 p.m. FREE! 706-369-9767 JACK JIGGLES The former member of DJ duo Cut-A-Rug spins classic jazz. Expect to hear the greats, from Louis Armstrong to Yusef Lateef, Albert Ayler to Charlie Parker. With special drinks from bartender Todd.

The Office Lounge 9:30 p.m. FREE! 706-549-0840 KARAOKE Every Wednesday with Lynn, the Queen of Karaoke!

Rye Bar 10 p.m. FREE! www.myspace.com/ ryebarathens CREATION CO. Brand-new jam band from here in Athens.

NOW OPEN

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NEW BOOKS

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See website for details

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500 College Avenue, Athens, GA 30601 706.546.0430 · www.indigoathens.com twitter.com/indigoathens · facebook.com/hotelindigoathens

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TACKY CHRISTMAS SWEATERS GALORE! Come in for your next Ho Ho Ho-liday Party!

706-369-7418 • 175 E. Clayton St. 11-8pm Mon-Sat • 12-6pm Sun

DECEMBER 15, 2010 · FLAGPOLE.COM

31

bulletin board DO SOMETHING; GET INVOLVED! HOLIDAY DeadlinE: The deadline for getting listed in Bulletin Board and Art Around Town will be WEDNESDAY, Dec. 16 at noon for the issue of Dec. 22. Email calendar@flagpole.com.

ART Call for Artists (Hampton Fine Art Gallery) Seeking submissions from artists all over the world to participate in the 2011 Grandeur Juried Artists International Exhibition.

Go online for a prospectus form.

Deadline: Dec. 20, 706-454-2161, www.hamptonfineartgallery.com/ files/Granduerexhibition2011.pdf Call for Submissions (Amici Italian Café) Amici’s is seeking 2-D works of art for month-long display.

706-353-0000, ryan.myers@amicicafe.com Call for Submissions (White Tiger Gourmet Food & Chocolates) White Tiger Gourmet is seeking artists for monthly exhibitions in 2011. Please email inquiries to jaseyjones@gmail.com.

CLASSES Adult Wing Chun Kung Fu (Floorspace) Wing Chun is a Chinese system of Kung Fu that specializes in developing dynamic, explosive and street-oriented practical self-defense. Mondays & Tuesdays, 5:45–6:45 p.m. $12 per class, $60 for 6 classes. jare616@gmail.com Adventure Club: Yoga Teacher Training (Rubber Soul Yoga Revolution Studio) A four-month workshop in yoga and life. Develop your own voice and methodology. Jan. 22–May 2. 706461-0262, calclements@yahoo. com, www.rubbersoulyoga.com/ adventure.html Art Classes (Lyndon House Arts Center) Sign up for winter and spring art classes! For adults, teens and children. Go online for full list of programs. Now registering! 706-

613-3623, www.accleisureservices. com Athens Vertical Pole Dance Academy (Canopy Studio, 160 Tracy St.) Now registering for classes. 706-347-3708 Bike Safety Class (East Athens Community Center) Keep safe on two wheels! Learn basic safety skills and general bicycle maintenance tips before you cruise. For kids ages 7–18 years. Participants will recieve a bike helmet. Dec. 31, 2 p.m. 706613-3593, www.accleisureservices. com Clay Classes (Good Dirt) Weekly “Try Clay” classes ($20/person) introduce participants to the potter’s wheel every Friday from 7–9 p.m.

“Family Try Clay” classes show children and adults hand-building methods every Sunday from 2–4 p.m.

706-355-3161, www.gooddirt.net Computer Class (ACC Library, Educational Technology Center) Introduction to the Internet. Call to register. Dec. 16, 7–8:30 p.m. FREE! 706-613-3650 Computer Class (Madison County Library) Create cards, calendars, flyers and more with Microsoft Publisher. Space is limited; call to register. Dec. 28, 2–3 p.m. & 7–8 p.m. Dec. 29, 11 a.m.–noon. FREE! 706-795-5597 Continuing Education Classes at Athens Tech (Athens Technical College) Register for a class to improve your home, enhance your computer skills, expand your job opportunities and more. Go online to learn about the opportunities. Call or email to register. 706-369-5763, awhite@athenstech.edu, www.athenstech.edu Continuing Education Classes at UGA (Various Locations) Register for a class to expand your job opportunities, en-

hance your garden, learn a new language, etc. Go online to learn more. www.georgiacenter.uga.edu Contra Dance (Memorial Park) Athens Folk Music & Dance Society offers a free lesson! No experience or partner needed. Dec. 18, 8–10 p.m. $7 (adults) FREE! (under 18) www.athensfolk.org Dance Classes (East Athens Educational Dance Center) Now registering for winter and spring classes for adults, teens and children.

Registration ends Jan. 13. 706-6133624, www.accleisureservices.com/ dance Egyptian Bellydance (Floorspace, 160 Tracy St.) Bellydance for any belly! All levels welcome to this fun and exotic class.

Tuesdays, 7 p.m. www.floorspace. com English as a Second Language (Pinewoods Hispanic Community Library) Classes every week! Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6:30–8 p.m. FREE! 706-613-3708 Figure Drawing Sessions (Fringe Collective Artistic Studios) Weekly drop-in sessions for artists wishing to draw the human figure.

Must be over age 18. Sundays, 2–4 p.m. $8. 706-540-2727, fringecollective@live.com Figure Photography Sessions (Fringe Collective Artistic Studios) Photographers over 18 years of age are invited to this weekly open studio. Optional instruction is offered for beginners.

By appointment only. Sundays, 4–6 p.m. $20. 706-540-2727, fringecollective@live.com FREE! Tai Chi in the Park on Talmadge Drive (Mind Body Institute, Athens Regional Medical Center) Offering Tai Chi instruction.

In case of rain, meet inside MBI. Call for more information. Jan 8,

ACC ANIMAL CONTROL

45 Beaverdam Rd. • 706-613-3540 The three pups below have suffered from neglect and near starvation. The first dark brindle and white has a rough wound around her neck from an embedded collar.

Even so, she is very sweet and confident. The second and third are so thin you can see the outline of all of their bones. They are both gentle and submissive young dogs.

The second pup has huge, pretty eyes and is shy. The third (looks like a dobie mix) is friendly and socialized.

Handsome and quiet young dog seems to have had some basic obedience training.

Would be an intelligent and loyal friend.

This girl looked so serious and sad in her kennel, but once we took her out and introduced ourselves as friends, she transformed into a happy buttwriggling Terrier.

31858

31862

From December 2 to December 8

32

31879

31859

ACC ANIMAL CONTROL 26 Dogs Received / 34 Dogs Placed 10 Cats Received / 9 Cats Placed ATHENS AREA HUMANE SOCIETY 3 Cats Received / 3 Cats Placed

FLAGPOLE.COM ∙ DECEMBER 15, 2010

31872 more dogs can be seen online at

athenspets.net

Charlie Key’s mixed-media work “Valley of my Lazy Lovelies” is on display at the Hotel Indigo Gallery.

9:30–10:30 a.m. FREE! 706-4757329, mbiprograms@armc.org Genealogy on the Internet (ACC Library) A brief intro to Internet resources for genealogy. Databases in Galileo will be introduced. Registration required.

Dec. 16, 10 a.m.–1 p.m. FREE! 706613-3650 Gymnastics (Bishop Park) Don’t miss registration for the winter gymnastics program. Find classes for all ages, from “Diaper Gym” to “Adult Tumbling!” 706-613-3589, www. accleisureservices.com/gymnastics. shtml Holiday Clay Classes (Good Dirt) Be productive and creative this season with wheel-thrown pottery, slab-building, clay beads or mug making! Complete schedule online.

706-355-3161, www.gooddirt.net Homemade Soap (State Botanical Garden of Georgia) Learn the basics of soap making. Pre-registration required. Dec. 15, 6:30–8:30 p.m. $27. 706-542-6156, www.uga.edu/ botgarden Intermediate Bellydance (Floorspace, 160 Tracy St.) Improve your graceful moves in a fun and supportive environment with a focus on tribal style and rhythms.

Thursdays, 7:45 p.m. www.floorspaceathens.com Iyengar Yoga (StudiO) Certified Iyengar teacher leads a class focusing on strength, flexibility, stamina and balance. Tuesdays, 6:45–8:15 p.m. $10/class, $56/series. www. athensomtownyoga.com Kids’ Kung Fu (Floorspace) The Junior program teaches a solid base of effective martial arts skills from Jun Fan Gung Fu and Wing Chun Kung Fu. Tuesdays & Thursdays, 3:45–4:45 p.m. jare616@gmail. com, www.floorspaceathens.com Laugh-a-Yoga (Mind Body Institute) Laugh your stress away.

Fourth Friday, 5:30–6:30 p.m. FREE! 706-475-7329, mbiprograms@ armc.org Make Your Own Holiday Centerpiece (State Botanical Garden of Georgia) Come prepared with your favorite container and pruning shears to design your own holiday centerpiece. Dec. 21, 6:30– 8:30 p.m. $27. 706-542-6156 Mama-Baby Yoga for Crawlers (Mind Body Institute) For crawlings babes until they begin

walking (about 8 months to 18 months age) and their mamas. Every Wednesday. 12:30–1:45 p.m. $60 (6 classes). 706-475-7329, www.armc. org/mbi Martial Arts (Live Oak Martial Arts, 400 C. Commerce Blvd.) Tae Kwon Do, self-defense and grappling and weapons classes for kids and adults, beginner through advanced. With instructor and three-time AAU National Champion Jason Hughes. 706-548-0077, www. liveoakmartialarts.com Musikgarten Early Childhood Classes (UGA School of Music) Music classes for toddlers ages 2–4. Check website for details. Jan. 24–Mar. 7. $70.

706-542-2894, ugacms@uga.edu, www.uga.edu/ugacms/earlychildhood.html New Horizon Music Classes (UGA School of Music) Beginning band, intermediate band, beginning orchestra and piano classes for adults age 50+. No prior music experience needed! FREE! Call 706542-2894 to register.

Pilates Mat Class (StudiO, 675 Pulaski St.) All levels are welcome.

Mats will be provided. Wednesdays, 6:45–7:40 p.m. $15. studioinathens. com Prenatal Yoga (Mind Body Institute) For expectant mothers.

Every Tuesday. 6:30–8 p.m. $60 (6 classes). 706-475-7329, www.armc. org/mbi Spanish Literacy (Pinewoods Hispanic Community Library) Improving Spanish literacy for adults. Tuesdays, 6–7 p.m.

Thursdays, 1–2 p.m. & 6–7 p.m.

FREE! 706-613-3708 Striptease 101 (The Hardcore Gym) Sexy dancing techniques for women. A prerequisite for Striptease 102. 18 & up. See schedule online. www.bobbisburlesque.webs.com Tribal Basics Bellydance (Floorspace, 160 Tracy St.) Bellydance for every belly! Learn graceful moves in a fun and supportive environment with a focus on Egyptian style and rhythms.

Thursdays, 6:30 p.m. www.floorspaceathens.com UGA Tango Club (UGA Tate Center, Room 311) Meet up every week to wax the floor with your new moves.

Evening classes for beginners and advanced students. Thursdays,

Beginning 6:10 p.m., Intermediate/ Advanced 7:10 p.m. $30 (per semester for non-students), $20 (UGA Community). athenstangoclub@ gmail.com Weekend Wellness (764 Barber Street) This 12-week course is designed to help you discover whole foods, whole health and whole happiness. Call to register, discounts for those who register before Jan. 1. Every Sunday, Jan. 9–Apr. 10.

706-313-5036, www.weekendwellnessgroup.com Weekly Meditation (Call for location) Providing a calm and open environment in which people can relax and experience new cultural and religious ideas. Wednesdays, 8 p.m.–9 p.m. FREE! athensinsights@ gmail.com Women Writing Their Lives (160 Tracy Street) A 12-week course designed to motivate and inspire women to tell their unique stories. Appropriate for beginners and those who would like the support of a group. Every Thursday, January–March, 7–8:15 p.m. $50/ month. thektp@gmail.com, holdingwomanspace.com Women’s Self Defense Classes (American Black Belt Academy) One rape or sexual assault occurs every two minutes in the U.S. Learn what you can do to protect yourself. Go online or call to register. 706-549-1671, www.americanblackbelt.org Yoga (Rubber Soul Yoga Revolution Studio) Offering yoga, meditation and gentle yoga classes every day of the week. For full schedule, go online. Daily, $5 (donation). www. rubbersoulyoga.com Yoga (Active Climbing) Join us every week to work out your core, strength, balance, flexibilty and more. First time is free, and all levels are welcome. Tuesdays, 5:30–6:45 p.m. $8/class. 706-354-0038, www. activeclimbing.com Yoga and Art for Kids and Teens (Whole: Mind. Body.

Art., 160 Tracy St.) Now offering mentally, physically and artistically enriching classes for children and teens. Choose from Yoga Sprouts, Recycled Arts, Intro to Drawing and Creative Alterations. Go online for more information and for complete schedule. 706-410-0283, wholemindbodyart.com

ART AROUND TOWN ACC Library (Heritage Gallery, 2025 Baxter St.) Graphic design exhibition of books and research posters accompanying Moon Jung Jang’s research on the transformation of a minor arc or minor arc sector in visual communication. Through December. • Paintings by Kate Windley. Through December.

Amici Italian Café (233 E. Clayton St.) Paintings of downtown Athens by Jamie Calkin. Through December.

Antiques and Jewels (290 N. MIlledge Ave.) New work by Jim StipeMaas, Mary Porter, Lana Mitchell, Greg Benson, Taylor Dubeau and Judy Dudley O’Donnell and other Georgia artists. Through January.

Aurum Studio (125 E. Clayton St.) Group show featuring paintings by Gwen Nagel, Scott Pope and Karen Kanemasu and sculptures by Noah Saunders.

Through February.

Dog Ear Books (162 W. Clayton St.) Paintings by Rhys May and Jacob Wenzka and photography by Anne Yarbrough. Through December.

Espresso Royale Caffe (297 E. Broad St.) New oils on paper works from Stuart McCall Libby.

Through December.

Farmington Depot Gallery (1011 Salem Rd., Farmington) Owned and staffed by 16 artists, the gallery exhibits paintings, sculpture, folk art, ceramics, fine furniture and more. Permanent collection artists include Phillip Goulding, Leigh Ellis, Peter Loose, Susan Nees and more.

Flicker Theatre & Bar (263 W. Washington St.) New works from Will Hart. Through December.

Georgia Center (Hill Atrium) Photojournalist Wingate Downs chronicles a legendary year in UGA football in this pictorial exhibit which will hang through Jan. 7.

Good Dirt (510 B Thomas St.) Holiday pottery show featuring work from Rob Sutherland, Al Pellenbergm, Allya Macdonald, Jim Peckham, Blake Anthony and many more. Through December.

Hampton Fine Art Gallery (115 E Broad St., Greensboro) Holiday-themed exhibition titled “The Ghosts of Christmas Past.” Through Jan. 10.

Hotel Indigo (500 College Ave.) Group show featuring Nash Hogan, Dena Zilber, Charlie Key and Margaret Schreiber.

Just Pho…and More (1063 Baxter St.) New work by artist Susan Gill. Through December.

Lamar Dodd School of Art (Gallery 307) “Lines of Impulse and Deliberation,” an exhibit featuring drawings by Susan Cofer. Through Dec. 15.

Lyndon House Arts Center (293 Hoyt St.) Brush paintings from Chinese artist I-Hsiung Ju, whose unique style seamlessly blends modern and traditional aesthetics. Other brush paintings and caligraphy from Virginia Lloyd-Davies and Egbert Ennulat. Through Jan. 19. • “Floating Fetching Fowling,” paintings, drawings, mixed media and 3D

Yoga Classes (Mind Body Institute) Experienced and highly educated instructors offer a wide variety of basic and specialty classes throughout the day. 706-475-7329, www.armc.org/mbi Yoga: Maintain, Prevent, Transform (Leathers Building) Hatha-style yoga in a small, comfortable setting with instructor Kerry Fulford. Tuesdays & Thursdays, 5:45–7:45 p.m. $60 (6 classes) 706207-5881 Zumba at the Garden (State Botanical Garden of Georgia) Get those extra holiday pounds off! Latin

art by Ouida Williams, Nancy Lloyd and Caroline Montague. Through Jan. 19. • “Hands That Can Do: African-American Quilters of Northeast Georgia,” is an exhibition of quilts which celebrates the tradition of quilting in the African-American community.

Through Jan. 19.

Madison County Library (1315 Highway 98 West, Danielsville) Display of Karen weavings, including hand-woven bags. The Karen are a group of refugees from Burma. Through December.

Mama’s Boy (197 Oak St.) New watercolors by Brooke Easler. Through December.

Monroe Art Guild (Main Gallery, Monroe) Exhibit featuring regional quilts. Through Dec. 28. • (Member’s Gallery) New works by Mary Alice Wood.

Through Dec. 28.

Oconee County Library (1080 Experiment Station Rd., Watkinsville) Beaded jewerly from Alice Rossiter. Through December. • Photography from Robert Rushton. Through December.

The Point of Art Gallery (604 Sibley Ave., Union Point) “Clay in a Can” is a travelling group show featuring ceramic work in a gallon paint can. Through Dec. 30. • “Tapestry: Life Stories in Paintings” features the work of Laura Connely.

Through Dec. 24.

Speakeasy (269 E. Broad St.) New paintings by Sarah Nguyen. Through February.

Ten Pins Tavern (2451 Jefferson Rd.) Screen prints, etchings, monoprints and drawings from young artist Gregory Stone. Through December.

The Grit (199 Prince Ave.) Works by Garland Sutton.

Through Jan. 2.

This-Way-Out (T-W-O) (680 W. Broad St.) AHA! (Athens Has Art!) features works by local independent artists including Ainhoa Bilboa Canup, Jennie Evans, John Schweppe, Meghan Morris, Audra Rich and more! Through Dec. 20. Gallery is open daily from 6–8 p.m.

Town 220 (Madison) “Aislin’s Bouquet from the Garden of the Fall,” an exhibit of various works inspired by gardens. Featuring more than a dozen local artists, including Greg Benson, Andy Cherewick, Dana Downs, Robert Lowery, Melin Foscue Miller, Masakatsu Nakagawa, Marshall Reddoch and Lamar Wood. Through January.

Trace Gallery (160 Tracy St., 2A) “Studio Potters” exhibition and sale featuring a selection of work from some of the area’s best-known potters. Through Jan. 7.

Transmetropolitan (145 E. Clayton St.) New paintings by Sophie Howell. Through December.

Visionary Growth Gallery (2400 Booger Hill Rd., Danielsville) “Psycollagraphica” features photography and collage by artists J. Phillip White, John Santerineross, Alexei Gural and Jillian Guarco.

Through Jan. 31.

White Tiger Gourmet Food & Chocolates (217 Hiawasee Ave.) New work from Gainsville artist Scott Begnaugh. Through December.

rhythms and easy-to-follow moves comprise this dynamic fitness program. Wednesdays, 5:30–6:30 p.m. $10/class, $80/session. www.uga. edu/botgarden

HELP OUT! Become a Mentor (Boys and Girls Clubs of Athens) Make a difference in the life of a local child in the new year! Volunteer one hour per week. Training will be provided by the staff. Email mentor@athensbgca. com for more info.

Bigger Vision Athens Raffle (Various Locations) The local shelter is raffling off a Jasmine by Takamine guitar autographed by Widespread Panic on Dec. 18. Tickets are $10; call to purchase. Call 770-851-2100 for more info.

BikeAthens Bike Recycling (Chase Street Warehouses) Join BikeAthens volunteers as they clean and repair donated bicylces for local service agencies. Bike repair skills a plus but not necessary. BikeAthens is also seeking donation of used kids and adult bikes in any condition.

Sundays (2–4:30 p.m.), Mondays

& Wednesdays (6–8:30 p.m.) FREE! www.bikeathens.com Blood Drive (Red Cross Donor Center) Give the gift of life! Call to make an appointment today. 706546-0681, 1-800-RED-CROSS, www.redcrossblood.org Clothing Drive (Dancefx) Donate your gently used clothing to Dancefx. There will be a sale on Jan. 15 with all proceeds benefiting dance projects in Athens. 706-3553078, www.dancefx.org Free IT Athens (Free IT Athens, 594 Oconee St.) New volunteer orientation for Free IT Athens. Visit www.freeitathens.org for more information. Dec. 16, 6 p.m. freeitathens@gmail.com

KIDSTUFF Art Activities (Pinewoods Hispanic Community Library) Every Thursday. 5–6 p.m. FREE! 706613-3708 Athens Jr. Roller Derby (Skate-A-Round USA) Girls ages 7-17 are invited to experience the confidence-building and physical benefits of the sport in this nocontact league. Sundays, 2–4 p.m. $3 (for speed skate rental). athensjuniorrollerderby.formup.com “Georgia Spiders” Youth Climbing Team (Active Climbing) This climbing team gives your child a chance to try to be a “Spider Man.” The first week is free.

Every Tuesday & Thursday, 5–6:30 p.m. 706-354-0038, adrian@activeclimbing.com Holiday Movie Classics Mini Camp (Memorial Park) Spend three days discussing It’s a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street, The Grinch and other holiday classics.

Each day will be filled with games, crafts and snacks. The last day involves a trip to the movies to see a current holiday feature! Dec. 20–22, 9 a.m.–3:30 p.m. $45. 706-6133580, www.accleisureservices.com Home School Science (Sandy Creek Nature Center) Sandy Creek Nature Center hosts an interactive learning experience for homeschoolers and their parents this fall. Call to register for these monthly programs about weather, rocks, astronomy and more. Third Fridays through December, 10 a.m.–noon. $2. 706613-3615 Homework Helpers (East Athens Community Center) UGA students tutor your children and help them get assignments finished. Open to any child or teen who needs help with homework. Daily, 3:30–5:30 p.m. FREE! 706-613-3657, www. clarke.public.lib.ga.us “It’s School Days Again!” (Lay Park) Ages 6 and up are invited to share stories about the school day’s adventures. Weekdays, 4:30–5 p.m.

FREE! 706-613-3667 Knee-High Naturalists (Sandy Creek Nature Center) A program of age-appropriate nature exploration,

animal encounters, hikes and crafts.

For parents and children. Alternating Wednesdays, 3:30–4:30 p.m. $13.

706-613-3515, www.sandycreeknaturecenter.com One-to-One Learning Program (Lay Park) UGA volunteers and our librarian are available to help children develop and improve their learning skills.

Daily, 3:30–5:30 p.m. FREE! 706613-3667 One-to-One Reading Program (East Athens Community Center) Read with the librarian and other volunteers. Get them all to yourself! For ages 6 and up. Daily, 3:30–5:30 p.m., FREE! 706-613-3593 Wild Intelligence Nature Programs (Orange Twin Conservation Community) Naturebased learning and character development while your child enjoys storytelling, games and curiosity-based adventure on the land. After-school and day-long programs. Mondays, 3:30–6 p.m. & Tuesdays 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Email tommy@wildintelligence. org Winter Explorers Mini Camp (Sandy Creek Nature Center) Threeday program with nature exploration, crafts and snacks. Ages 4–12. Dec. 21–23. 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. $16.

706-613-3615 ext. 0 Youth Basketball Registration (Various Locations) Sign-ups for recreational basketball league. Registration begins on Nov. 20 at Bishop Park, East Athens Community Center and Lay Park. 706-613-3589, www.accleisureservices.com/basketball Youth Soccer (Southeast Clarke Park) Now registering for co-ed recreational league for children 4–11 years old. 706-613-3871, www.accleisureservices.com/soccer Youth Theater Workshop (Various Locations) Innovative, creative after-school theater workshops for ages 6-12. Fun & skills in voice, movement, improvisation and storytelling. Through Dec. 15.

Mondays at Athens Montessori School, Tuesdays at Waseca Leaning Environment). 3:15 & 4:15 p.m. $120. www.smallhousecreative.com

SUPPORT Alcoholics Anonymous (Athens, GA) If you want to drink, that’s your business. If you want to stop, we can help. 706-543-0436, www.athensaa.com Athens Mothers’ Center (St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church) Parenting is a demanding and important job. Meet with other supportive moms and dads. Tuesdays & Fridays, 9:30–11:30 a.m. 706-5528554, www.athensga.mothercenter. org Emotional Abuse Support Group (Call for location) Demeaning behavior and hateful words can be just as harmful as

Get Nutritious this New Year!

punches and kicks. Childcare is provided. Call the Project Safe hotline: 706-543-3331. Wednesdays, 6:30–8 p.m.

Emotions Anonymous (Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Athens) Informal and supportive 12step program open to anyone with a desire to become well emotionally.

Sundays, 4–5 p.m. 706-202-7463, Email www.emotionsanonymous.org Expressive Writing for People with Chronic Illnesses (Whole: Mind. Body.

Art.) A supportive and creative enviroment for those dealing with chronic illness. Using writing as a therapeutic tool, this class aims to help people process and express their feelings about life circumstances. Thursdays, 7:30–8:30 p.m.

Gender Mix (UGA Memorial Hall, Room 414) A male and female discussion and support group established to promote unity within interpersonal relationships. Last Monday of every month. 6 p.m. FREE! 706542-8468, cymoon@uga.edu Overeaters Anonymous (Various Locations) 12-step meetings for compulsive eaters. All ages and sizes welcome. Mondays, 5:30 p.m. at Nuçi’s Space. Thursdays, 7 p.m. at St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church. Saturdays, 10:30 a.m. at Princeton United Methodist Church.

FREE! 404-771-8971, www.oa.org PTSD Support Group Local support group now forming for family members of soldiers and veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder.

770-725-4527 Sapph.Fire The newly formed social, support and volunteer organization for lesbian and bisexual women of color. Ages 21 & up. Join Sapph. fire on Downelink. Email sapph. fire@yahoo.com to learn about the next meeting.

Survive and Revive (Call for location) Domestic violence support group. Dinner begins at 6 p.m. and group at 6:30 p.m. Children are welcome for supper and childcare is provided during group. Second and fourth Tuesday of the month in Clarke County. First and third Monday of the month in Madison County. 6–8 p.m. Project Safe: 706543-3331

ON THE STREET Frankenstein Lives! Rose of Athens Theatre chronicles the life of young gothic novelist Mary Shelley in this performance which explores some uncanny similarities between the artist and her literary creation.

The show is available for booking through March. 706-340-9181, www.roseofathens.org Gift Wrapping (Barnes and Noble) Presentation counts! The Oconee County Library Friends want to help you wrap your presents. No wrinkles.

No lumps. Make your family proud.

Dec. 16, 1–10 p.m. Donations accepted. 706-769-3950 f

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DECEMBER 15, 2010 · FLAGPOLE.COM

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comics

34

FLAGPOLE.COM ∙ DECEMBER 15, 2010

reality check

Open Christmas and New Year’s!

Matters Of The Heart And Loins For the last year or so, I have been seeing a wonderful man. We are both in our 40s, divorced and with grown kids. We met through the old-fashioned way being introduced by a mutual friend at a party. No Internet hook up or anything like that. We started off slowly— just a few casual dates over a couple of months, then things picked up and we began spending more time together. I am really into this guy—big time! He is smart, handsome, funny and incredibly interesting.

So, you may ask, why I am I writing to you about Mr. Perfect? Well, here it goes. He has a friend. Not just any kind of friend but a special friend that he confides everything to. And yes, this special friend is a woman. Am I jealous?

Duh! He has known her for over 20 years. They met as coworkers when both were in the final stages of a dissolving marriage. Neither of them ever remarried. I would say, on average, he spends as much time with her as he does me, just not the same kinda hours. The two of them have lunch together quite often and do things on the weekend during the day. Seldom are they together after six.

Of course, I had to ask him if they were or had ever been lovers. He quickly answered that they had been lovers once and that was a long time ago, and they preferred to just be friends. I don’t find this totally unbelievable except for one little thing. This woman embodies everything he wants in a woman. She is educated, independent, friendly and, yes, she looks awesome. She even dresses the way he likes to see women dress.

So, am I wasting my time on this guy? If I keep on with this relationship will it more than likely end badly for me?

Anonymous If they have known each other for over 20 years and they haven’t decided to have a serious relationship, then the chances they’re going to strike one up now are pretty slim.

Do you not have any male friends? Is it really so difficult for you to understand this? You’ve already said that they don’t spend evenings together, (though I fail to see why the time of day that they meet is relevant), and he already told you that they slept together once and it was a no-go. That rules out the possibility that they don’t know what they’re missing, or that they will one day decide that they should have tried sleeping together a long time ago.

So, what is your problem, exactly? I assure you that there are single women your age reading this right now and cursing you for being so incredibly thick. If you decide to blow this over petty jealousy, then please do us all the favor of making sure I know how to put them in contact with Mr. Perfect. In the meantime, you should let both Mr. Perfect and his best friend know that you have some feelings of jealousy, but (and this is important) that you know it is ridiculous. Do this in a rational way, and don’t threaten them or try to make them feel bad. Just explain that you have these feelings and that you are working on them. Maybe once you get to know her better you’ll feel less threatened.

I have been seeing this woman every once in awhile for the past year. “Mary” and I met through mutual friends and we live quite a ways apart from one another, so the relationship is casual. We have talked about it at length, and since neither of us is willing to move, we have both decided that we’ll take what we can get for the moment. We also have the understanding that both of us are allowed to date other people. So, things have been rolling along nicely, and then recently there have been some things that have given me pause.

I have two roommates, both of whom are female and both of whom have boyfriends.

Mary is fully aware of this, and has never been bothered before about either of these ladies.

Then about a month ago, I went out on a couple of dates. One of those dates went very well, and I have since seen that woman (I’ll call her Kate) a couple more times. We are not involved physically, but she has spent a night here. Out of a desire to be totally honest, I have told Mary about Kate.

She said she wasn’t bothered, which I assumed was true, and then she hung up the phone a bit abruptly a few minutes later.

Next time we talked, she asked me if I had seen Kate again. I had. She then launched into a long story about a guy she had gone out with a couple of times, clearly trying to make me jealous. I wasn’t jealous, because I knew this was something I would likely face eventually, so I didn’t really react.

She then asked me if she could come visit on the next weekend. I said yes. Now, Kate knows about Mary, and I have told her that I wasn’t necessarily interested in an exclusive relationship. She seems fine with that. I told her Mary was coming to visit, and she also seemed fine with that.

When Mary came for the weekend, things started well. We had a great dinner, went out for a couple drinks, and came home to bed. In the middle of the night, my roommates came home and Mary got out of bed, still undressed, to use the bathroom. I don’t think my roommates were particularly offended, but it seemed like an odd thing to do. She ended up staying an extra night, and on Sunday night she was being particularly loud during sex. I asked her to be quiet since my roommates were sleeping and had to get up early the next day, but she wouldn’t listen. Even afterward, she made a big show of going down to the kitchen for water and yelling up the stairs to see if I wanted any.

She left on Monday afternoon, and I made dinner for my roommates that night to make up for her rude behavior. So, now I don’t know what to do. I have been having a great time with Mary, but it seems clear to me that she is jealous of Kate. My roommates say that I have to choose. What do you think?

Regardless of what you agreed to or what she says, Mary is obviously jealous. You know it, she knows it, and she’s willing to drag your roommates into it just to prove a point. Kate may or may not work out, but even if she doesn’t, there will always be another Kate for Mary to get mad about. If neither of you is willing to move, it is as good as over anyway, so you might as well pull the proverbial plug.

Jyl Inov

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classifieds

Buy It, Sell It, Rent It, Use It! Place an ad anytime at flagpole.com  Indicates images available at flagpole.com

Real Estate Apartments for Rent Early deadline! Issues of Dec. 29 & Jan. 5 will be combined into 1 incredible double issue covering newsstands for 2 weeks!Submit all Classified ads by Thurs., Dec. 23 at 11 a.m.!

1BR apartment for $475/ mo. 2BR apartment starting at $700/mo.

3BR apartment starting at $1000/mo. All close to campus! Howard Properties (706) 546-0300.

1BR $499/mo., 2BR $549/ mo., 3BR $699/mo.! Huge apartments located 3 mi. from campus & Dwntn.

Pre-leasers will receive 1st mo. free if moving after Jan.! Restrictions apply. On busline and pet friendly. Call us! (706) 549-6254.

$460/mo. 1 extra lg. BR, walk–in closet, lg. LR, 650 sq. ft. 18–unit complex off Milledge. On–site laundry facilities. (706) 764-6854 or (706) 207-9902.

1BR/1BA, walk to 40 Watt in 10 min. Bike-able backstreets to Prince. Hancock/Church.

Spacious kitchen, 2 FPs, yd. & garden. Avail. Jan. 1st. $575/mo. Water incl. (914) 924-4068.

1BR/1BA apartment. Great in–town, Boulevard n’hood.

Walk everywhere. Water & garbage paid. $490-$525/mo.

Check out www.boulevard propertymanagement.com or call (706) 548-9797.

1st month free! 2BR/2BA apartment. Walking distance to Dwntn./campus. W/D, DW, on busline. Easy access to loop. (706) 548-2522. www. dovetailmanagement.com

flagpole classifieds Reach Over 30,000 Readers Every Week!

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BASIC RATES* Individual Real Estate Business (RTS) Run-‘Til-Sold** Online Only***

$10 per week $14 per week $16 per week $40 per 12 weeks $5 per week

1BR/1BA. All electric. Nice apartment. Water provided. On busline. Single pref’d. Available now! (706) 543-4271.

2BR/2BA, W/D, DW. 255 N Harris St. Walking distance to Dwntn. Athens, UGA & bus stop. Avail. 12/28. $650/ month. Contact current tenant at brandyerdmann@ y a h o o . c o m o r Va l e r i o Properties at valerioteam@ aol.com.



3BR/2BA gated community. HWflrs, tile, granite, etc. 1st mo. free!

Avail. immediately. Amenities galore! $1050/mo. Geoff (706) 206-3560. Owner lic.

Ga. RE agent, lic. #302489.

4BR/2.5BA townhouse off Cedar Shoals. On bus route.

Pets welcome. Avail. Dec. 1.

Only $1000/mo. Aaron (706) 207-2957.

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640 sq. ft. loft apartment at Chase Park art complex. Built out new in 2009, incl.: granite counters, ceiling fans, 240 sq. ft. loft w/ closet & outside storage room. Nice quality build out! Call Nathan, cell: (478) 290-6283, work: (478) 274-8141.

Basement apartment.

1BR/1BA, kitchen, living room, private entrance. All utils., cable TV & wifi incl.

Avail. Jan 1. N/S pref’d. $550/mo. (706) 340-9547.

Best deal in town! El Dorado Apartments in Normaltown area. $675/mo. 2BD/1BA, pets allowed w/ deposit.

Multiple units avail. Joiner & Associates (706) 549-7371, www.gojoiner.com.

Dwntn. apartment, walk to UGA, bus routes. 1BR, e l e c t r i c o n l y u t i l . Wa t e r incl. Free parking. No dep. w/ signed lease.

Lease from 1/1/11 to 7/31/11. $465/mo. Call (706) 202-0097.

DGH Properties.

1BR Dwntn. Close to everything but out of bar scene. Comfor table h i s t o r i c b l d g . Wa l k t o campus. Call George at (706) 340-0987.

Dwntn., 3 blocks from N. Campus. 2BR in historic bldg. Out of noise & bar s c e n e . Av a i l . J a n . C a l l George at (706) 3400987.

Efficiency apartment. 1BR w/ private entrance. On Hill St., utils. incl., 1 mi. to UGA, pets OK, $500/ mo. Call (706) 255-0726.

East Athens, 1BR duplex apartment. Quiet & woodsy, new carpeting, W/D. Avail. Jan. 1. Call Jamison, (706) 3540829.

Reduced rent! $600/ mo. 1BR/1BA, LR, study, modern kitchen, pool, gym, gated, ground floor corner unit. Stadium Village close to UGA. Ideal for single/couple.

Mary (706) 540-2887, wimberlyme@bellsouth. net.

Studio condos Dwntn.

Athens. On Broad St. & across the street from campus! $600/mo. + util. Avail. Jan 2011. Call (404) 557-5203.

* Ad enhancement prices are viewable at flagpole.com ** Run-‘Til-Sold rates are for MERCHANDISE ONLY *** Available for individual rate categories only

PLACE AN AD • At flagpole.com, pay with credit card or PayPal account • Call our Classifieds Dept. (706) 549-0301 • Email us at class@flagpole.com

Dwntn., 1BR/1BA flat, $ 4 6 5 / m o . Wa t e r, g a s , trash pick-up incl. On-site laundry, Jan. 1 move in.

Joiner Management, (706) 353-6868.

CONDOS

36

FLAGPOLE.COM ∙ DECEMBER 15, 2010

All Include Washer/Dryer & Fireplace Pool on-site!

706-613-9001 www.athens-ga-rental.com

Westside condos, 2BR/2BA, $600/mo.

Eastside quadraplex, 2BR/2BA, $500/mo. & 2BR/1BA, $475/mo. Eastside duplex, 2 B R / 1 B A & F P, $ 4 7 5 / mo. Eastside basement apartment, 2BR/1BA, W/D, nice yd., $500/mo. Call McWaters Realty, (706) 353-2700 or cell (706) 5401529.

Commercial Property Athens executive suites. Offices available in historic Dwntn. bldg. w/ on–site parking. All utils., internet & janitorial incl.

Single or multiple offices avail. Call Stacy (706) 425-4048 or (706) 2961863.

Downtown business w/ 2 parking spots. 250 W Broad St #108, zoned C-D, across from UGA. Terms neg. for business. Asking $249K for space. Call Jim Paine, (706) 372-7300.

Eastside offices. 1060 Gaines School Rd. Rent 1200 sq. ft. $1200/mo., 750 sq. ft. $900/mo., 450 sq. ft. $600/mo., 170 sq. ft. $375/mo. (706) 546-1615 or athenstownproperties. com.

WESTSIDE HEIGHTS

Call Today for Move-In Specials

Hamilton & Associates

Westside Heights Apartments Holiday Special: 1st mo.’s rent free! Prices starting at $429. 1, 2 & 3 BR. Special rates w/ water incl. Tax ID accepted, total electric, W/D connections.

Call today! (706) 549-0180.

Now open Sat. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. www.westsideheights. com.

Retail, bar, or restaurant for lease at Homewood Shopping Center. 3000 sq. ft. Call Bryan Austin at (706) 3531039.

JAMESTOWN 2BR / 2.5BA Townhomes $650

• Deadline to place ads is 11:00 a.m. every Monday for the following Wednesday issue • All ads must be prepaid • Set up an account to review your placement history or replace old ads at flagpole.com

Unbelievable deal! $900/ mo.! 3BR/2.5BA townhouse on Milledge. Pool, sand volleyball, basketball. W/D, all appls incl. On busline.

Don’t wait, won’t last! (678) 462-0824.

APARTMENTS

GRADUATE/HOLIDAY SPECIAL Hamilton & Associates 706-613-9001

1st MONTH RENT FREE! Rent starting at $429

706-549-0180

www.westsideheights.com

Condos for Rent 2BR/2.5BA condo for rent beginning 1/1/11. Appleby Mews Condo complex.

Walking distance to UGA campus. Call (912) 246-0682 after noon.

Duplexes For Rent 200 Hilltop. 1BR apartment w/ all appliances incl. W/D. Excellent condition. Lg. LR w/ separate BR. $425/mo.

Call Carol (706) 540-0472.

2BR/1BA duplex on Westside. 171 Nicole Circle.

W / D c o n n . F P, C H A C , fenced yd. $425/mo. & dep. each. (706) 498-4733.

East Athens. Great 2BR/1BA duplex. On city busline. Fresh paint, W/D, DW, range, fridge, trash & yd. service incl. Pets OK. Avail. now! $550/mo. Call Mike (877) 740-1514 toll free.

Houses for Rent $690/mo. 3BR for the price of 2! Renovated bungalow 1.2 miles from Arch. Call (706) 2550659. Photos, map & info a t w w w. 1 5 9 6 e a s t b ro a d . blogspot.com. $850/mo. Great Eastside location. 4BR/1.5BA, lg. kitchen, private deck, W/D, workshop, very good condition, fenced-in yd., 1 car garage, safe & quiet n’hood. 117 Crossbow Cir, Winterville. Avail. 2/1/11.

Owner/Agent, call Robin (770) 265-6509. $775/mo. Blocks from UGA & Dwntn. Athens.

3BD/1BA, totally remodeled, tall ceilings, H W fl r s ., ti l e , W /D , fro n t porch. 500 Willow St. Avail. 1/1/11. Owner/ Agent, call Robin (770) 265-6509.

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$700/mo.2-3BR/1BA house w/ fenced in yd.

HWflrs. throughout. Willing to leave W/D. Normaltown, blocks from ARMC. Avail.

Jan 1. (706) 951-3138 or LRyan58@gmail.com. $ 6 0 0 / m o . 2BR/2BA or 3BR/1BA. 115/121 E. Carver Dr. Fenced–in yd. Tile & HWflrs. CHAC, W/D hookups, DW. Pets welcome. Avail. now! (706) 614-8335.

130 yr. old artist house on the corner of Savannah & Atlanta Ave. 3 brick FPs, HWflrs.

2BR/1BA for $750/mo. Avail.

December. Call (706) 6546975, (706) 255-7550.

1BR/1BA at corner of W. Cloverhurst & Milledge, right near 5 Pts. Plenty of space.

Great location. Safe n’hood.

Pets welcome. Water incl. $475/mo. (706) 247-0427.

1 lg. BR for rent in newly renovated 5 Pts. home.

Close to campus, safe neighborhood, good roomies! $400/mo. + 1/3 utils. Call (678) 492-8036.

1BR cottage. 1/4 mi. from campus. 100 yrs. old.

HWflrs. Big kitchen. All appls incl. Front/back porch. No pets, no smokers. $700/mo.

Avail. now. (770) 995-6788.

175 Glenhaven Ave. 3BR/1.5BA, $690/mo.

Close to Milledge Ave. & UGA. Oak floors, W/D, DW, CHAC, deck, fenced yd. hathawayproperties@gmail. com, (706) 714-4486.

2, 3 & 4 BR homes avail. in Dwntn. area. Pets welcome.

CHAC. Fenced-in yds. W/D incl. Call Lance (706) 7144603.

2BR/2BA perfect Dwntn. location. New. 1 mi. from Arch. Stainless, HWflrs., tile, covered porches. Off-street parking. W/D incl. Avail. fall 2011. $1050/mo. Aaron (706) 207-2957.

2BR secluded country cabin 9 mi. from Dwntn. on 1.5 acres. Large screened front porch. 40s tongue & groove walls. Winterville. $650/mo.

(706) 540-8461.



3BR/1BA in Winterville.

HWflrs. Front yd., small screened-in porch, wooded lot. Quiet n’hood. Avail. Jan. 1. Pets OK. $750/mo. Tenant pays utils. (706) 410-5239.

3BR/3BA, best Dwntn. location. New. 1 mi. from Arch. Stainless, HWflrs., tile, covered porches. Off-street parking. W/D incl. Avail. fall 2011. $1500/mo. Aaron (706) 207-2957.

3BR/2.5BA in Milford Hills.

Open floor plan, lg. LR, 2 car garage. W/D, lawn maint. & trash incl. Avail. Dec 1. $1100/ mo. Aaron (706) 207-2957.



3BR/1BA newly renovated home.

Great location off W. Broad St. HWflrs., new ext. & int. paint. Large porch & deck, $850. (770) 368-8151.

49 Gail Dr. 3-4BR/1.5BA. HWflrs! CHAC. Fenced yd.

Pets OK. No pet fees! Other homes avail. $850/mo. (706) 254-2569.

4BR/4.5BA cottage at The Station avail. Jan.! HWflrs., private baths, huge walk-in closets, all appliances incl.

Floorplan is a must see!

(706) 543-1910.

4BR/4BA awesome Dwntn. location. New. 1 mi. from Arch. Stainless, HWflrs., tile, covered porches. Offstreet parking. W/D incl.

Avail. fall 2011. $1950/mo.

Aaron (706) 207-2957.

Best rentals in Athens! 1–5BR houses, apts., condos. In the heart of UGA/Dwntn./5 Pts. Avail. Aug. Going fast, call today!

(706) 369-2908 for more info.

Eastside: 3BR/2BA, lg. yd., on dead–end street, $1000/mo. 4BR/2BA, lg. yd., $1200/mo. Five Pts.: 3BR/1BA, single carport, $750/mo. Call McWaters Realty, (706) 353-2700, (706) 540-1529.

Great 2BR house. Front & back porches. West-side.

HWflrs., lg. updated kitchen.

W/D. 150oldclevelandroad. wordpress.com. Dec. free! $625/mo. (770) 833-7307.

Go to www.flagpole. com to place your Classified today!

Private cottage 10-15 minutes to campus, 2BR/1BA, CHAC, W/D, big screen porch, large organic garden space w/ conditioned soil, good well. $650/mo. (706) 540-4022, lwnow1@windstream.net.

Pre-leasing houses for UGA students. 7BR, 6BR, 5BR, 4BR, 3BR, 2BR, 1BR. Close to UGA & D w n t n . L o w e s t re n t . hathawaypropertiesathens. com. (706) 714-4486.

Houses for Sale $160K, 3BR/2BA, close to GA Square Mall, 3-16 & loop. All appliances i n c l . W / D , D W, H W f l r s , 2 car garage, Andersen windows, built-in alarm & auto watering system. Quiet neighborhood. Clarke Co. Contact Bowen Craig (706) 543-0692.

Rooms for Rent

Studios

Opportunities

Avail. Jan. 1. Huge room in laid-back historic Cobbham house. High ceilings, HWflrs., porch, HVAC, W/D. Share kitchen & BA w/ 2 others. Utils. split 5 ways.

Walk to town. No pets, 6 mo. lease, deposit. F graduate or professional preferred. (706) 424-0901.

RoomFiftyThree. Mix room & ProTools HD2 Accelbased recording studio on the Eastside of Athens.

Seriously high–end analog gear! Seriously affordable!

Feel the love! Visit www. roomfiftythree.com.

Help wanted. Extra income!

Assembling CD cases from home! No experience necessary! Call our live operators now! (800) 405-7619, ext. 2450, www.easyworkgreatpay.com (AAN CAN).

Spring Lake Apartments.

Great 2BR/2BA avail. now through July. $699/mo. Free W/D w/ move in. Dec. rent already paid! Call Josh (706) 892-6086.

For Sale Antiques Antiques & jewels Christmas sale! Antique furniture, estate jewelry, fine oil paintings, Persian rugs, silver, china, stain glass & more. Open 11-6 daily except Sun. & Mon. by chance or appointment. (706) 3403717. 290 N. Milledge Ave. Athens. Antiques-jewels. com.

Furniture



A l l n e w pi l l o w - t o p mattress set, $139.

Sofa & love-seat, $399.

5-piece cherry finish bedroom set, $399. (706) 612-8004.

Land liquidation. 20 acres, $0 down, $99/mo. Only $12,900. Near growing El Paso, TX. Guaranteed owner financing, no credit checks!

Money back guarantee. Free map/pictures. (866) 2574555, www.sunsetranches. com (AAN CAN).

Go to Agora! Cool & a f f o r d a b l e ! Yo u r favorite everything store, specializing in retro goods, antiques, furniture, clothes, records & players plus more! 260 W. Clayton St., (706) 316-0130.

Share 3BR/2BA house on Eastside 3.5 mi. to UGA. W/D, FP, DW. Room can be furnished or empty. $300 + 1/3 utils. Laid-back but clean roommates. No pets. (706) 202-4837.

My name is Nick. I am local to Athens. I specialize in cleaning w/ "Earth Friendly" products.

My cleaning is pet & child friendly. I am thorough & efficient, therefore ver y easy on the budget! Phone or text (706) 206-0381. Email Nick@goodworld.biz.

Financial

Sub-lease

Land for Sale

Roommates

Cleaning

Seeking reasonably neat, N/S, responsible, mature housemate. 1BR in beautiful 3BR/3.5BA house, awesome location, quiet n’hood blocks from Dwntn. & campus.

Pulaski St./Prince Ave. $475/ mo. rent, 1/3 utils. Pets negotiable. Call Heather (717) 666-4712.

Better than Ebay!

Sell your goods locally w/out shipping fees!

Place your ads in Flagpole Classifieds.

Awesome run–til– sold rate! 12 wks. for only the price of 4! Go to www.flagpole.com or call (706) 549-0301.

Townhome located on river near city park for sale.

2BR/2.5BA, HWflrs, central HVAC, dishwasher, W/D, private deck, much more.

Motivated seller. Call Matt at (706) 248-9088.

Services

Looking for responsible roommate to share 2BR/2BA house. 1/2 mi. to Dwntn./ campus. New BAs & kitchen, office, wifi, W/D. $385/mo. + utils. Call Tony (478) 3974696.

Pillowtop queen mattress set. Never used. Still in factory plastic. $260. (706) 769-1959. Delivery avail.

Salon equipment, reception desks, customized glass shelving & furniture for sale.

497 Prince Ave.

Pets Boulevard Animal Hospital, 298 Prince Ave. Across from Bottleworks.

December special: 25% off exams w/ donation of canned food for homeless.

Come by for a visit! www. downtownathensvet.com.

(706) 425-5099.

Music Instruction Athens School of Music.

Instruction in guitar, bass, drums, piano, voice, brass, woodwinds, strings, banjo, mandolin, fiddle & more.

From beginner to expert.

Instrument repairs avail. Visit www.AthensSchoolofMusic. com, (706) 543-5800.

Music Services Fret Shop. Professional guitar repairs & modifications, setups, electronics, precision fretwork. Previous clients incl.

R.E.M., Widespread Panic, Cracker, Bob Mould, John Berry, Abbey Road Live!, Squat. (706) 549-1567.

Looking for a pianist, saxophone player, violinist?

Looking for a band?

Find your music mate w/ Flagpole Classifieds!

Call (706) 549-0301.

Wedding bands. Quality, professional bands.

Weddings, parties. Rock, jazz, etc. Call Classic City Entertainment. ( 7 0 6 ) 5 4 9 - 1 5 6 7 . w w w. classiccityentertainment. com. Featuring The Magictones - Athens’ premiere wedding & party band. www.the magictones. com.

Cash now! Get cash for your structured settlement or annuity payments. High payouts. Call JG Wentworth (866) 447-0925. Rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau (AAN CAN).

Health P re g n a n t ? C o n s i d e r i n g adoption? Talk w/ caring agency specializing in matching birthmothers w/ families nationwide.

Living expenses paid. Call 24/7 Abby’s One True Gift Adoptions (866) 413-6293 (AAN CAN).

The Weekend Wellness Wo r k s h o p i s a 1 2 w k . course starting Jan. 9 to help you discover whole foods, whole health & whole happiness. Details at www. weekendwellnessgroup.com!

Misc. Services Ready to move forward in your career?

Resume assistance, 1-on-1 coaching. Athens Career Coach. Free consultation, affordable rates. Contact Sean at (706) 363-0539 o r v i s i t h t t p : / / w w w. higheredcareercoach. com/flagpole.

High school diploma! Graduate in just 4 wks.! Free brochure.

Call now! (800) 532-6546, ext.

97, www.continentalacademy. com (AAN CAN).

Movie extras earn up to $150/ day to stand in backgrounds of major film. Experience not required. Call now! (888) 664-0062 (AAN CAN).

Movie extras to stand in backgrounds for major film production. Earn up to $200/ day. Experience not required.

All looks needed. Call (877) 568-7052.

Paid in advance! Make $1000/ wk. mailing brochures from home! Guaranteed income!

Free supplies! No experience required. Start immediately! www.homemailerprogram.net (AAN CAN).

Part-time Mystery shoppers earn up to $100/day. Undercover shoppers needed to judge retail & dining establishments.

No exp. req’d. (800) 743-8535.

Vehicles Autos 2006 Saturn Vue. Black w/ gray interior. Great gas mileage, cold A/C, factory roof racks, power windows, locks & mirrors. 81K hwy miles. $8950 OBO. (706) 206-1836.



Honda Civic Si Sports, 2 dr, 35,000 mi., 6 spd.

MT. 200 horse power, 21/29 mpg. New Contis. Wellmaintained. Loaded. $16,500 OBO. Serious. (678) 984-7474.

Boats 1962 Lonestar 18’ lake boat.

Only 20 hrs. on Tohatsu 70 horsepower, low emissions engine. Selling w/ skis, lg. inflatable, all accessories. $3500. Call (912) 223-0073.

Stuck in a lease you're trying to end? Sublease your house or apartment w/ Flagpole Classifieds!

Visit flagpole.com or call (706) 549-0301.

Flagpole subscriptions, delivered straight to the mailbox! Perfect Christmas present for your buddy who moved out of town! $35 for 6 mo.s, $55 for 1 yr.! Call (706) 549-9523.

Jobs

Notices

Full-time

Lost and Found

House/server staff: Greyfield Inn, Cumberland Island.

Come join our house staff & live/work on a beautiful Georgia island! Some dining & wine service experience helpful. In-residence position. $25,500/annum. Send letter of interest & application request to seashore@ greyfieldinn.com.

Lost! Small adult female B & W long-hair cat on Mitchell Bridge Rd. Call (706) 296-0361.

DECEMBER 15, 2010 · FLAGPOLE.COM

37

The UGA Observatory

PAIN & WONDER

TATTOO

(706) 2089588

UGA Online Courses

BODY PIERCING

Provided by Virtue & Vice, Inc. Athens’ Own Randy Smyre & Bethra Szumski Association Professional Piercers Board Member

285 W. Washington St. • Athens, GA 30601

www.painandwonder.com

MORE THAN 75 COURSES ONLINE For more information or to register:

www.georgiacenter.uga.edu/flagpole 706-542-3243 1-800-877-3243 See your academic advisor about applying specific IDL courses to your program of study.

Independent and Distance Learning (IDL)

Suite 193 • 1197 South Lumpkin Street • Athens, GA The University of Georgia is committed to principles of equal opportunity and affirmative action.

Stargazing

A

gaggle of girls crowded around the steel work ladder, each vying for her turn to look through the lens into outer space. Talking loudly over their girlish squeals of curiosity, astronomy professor Loris Magnani explained to them what it was, exactly, they were peering at so excitedly.

“See that big dot in the middle?” Magnani asked, as 10-year-old Killian Griffin nodded, gazing into the giant telescope. “That is Jupiter. And you see the dots beside it? Those are satellites.”

“Wow,” Killian replied. “That is so cool.”

Killian, along with her young stargazing friends, had come out to the University of Georgia’s monthly observatory open house to celebrate her birthday and get a little learning to boot.

“We had never been out before, and it seemed like a great way to entertain a group of girls, and myself as well,” shrugged Killian’s mother, Jen Fleece, of Athens.

Once a month, the university’s astronomy and physics building opens its door (or roof, as the case may be) for the evening, letting the public into its astronomical space to take a gander through a massively powerful 24-inch Cassegrain reflecting telescope. On the aforementioned November night, a clear sky provided the ideal backdrop for viewing Jupiter, that gaseous planet over 1,000 times the size of Earth. The telescope, too, was pointed toward the four Galilean satellites that orbit the planet.

Each monthly viewing offers a different sight, depending on the clarity of the sky and the Earth’s position in orbit, Magnani said. On a typical observation night, viewers can expect to wait anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour to gaze through the 50-year-old telescope inside the rooftop dome.

To accommodate the crowds, a “short line” is offered on two outer decks. Here, guests on the November night were able to see varying sights though the smaller 10-inch telescopes, including the Andromeda Galaxy, Orion nebula and a few double stars.

On this night, however, guests in queue for the grand dome viewing were lucky. Though the short line was rather crowded, the usually long line for the large telescope moved quickly, and the sky conditions made for a spectacular view.

“We usually have a huge line wrapped down the staircase,” said Magnani. “I don’t know what happened tonight. We still have a pretty good crowd, but on a typical night people wait for a while. I guess you all got lucky.”

Hull resident Pat Swanson certainly thought so. Having lived near the university for 20 years, she had known about the monthly space viewing for some time, but had never taken advantage of the experience until recently.

“This is just the coolest thing; I don’t know why I didn’t do it sooner,” Swanson said. “I think it’s just great how they give the public access to this amazing machine. What a great way to spend an evening.”

Making their way down the fourth floor staircase to the exit elevator, Jennifer, Christy and Woody Coward gushed with newfound astrological knowledge, facts and trivia spewing from their mouths.

“Jupiter takes about 12 years to orbit the sun,” Christy marveled. “I mean, that is a really long time.”

“I know. This is just amazing,” her mother, Jennifer, nodded. “I have always had a curiosity about outer space, and never would have been able to see anything like this if not for tonight. We as a community are real lucky to have this opportunity every month.”

Anna Ferguson Hall The observatory is housed in the UGA physics building and is open one Friday evening every month. Admission is free. For more information, visit www.physast.uga.edu/observatory/schedule.

38

FLAGPOLE.COM ∙ DECEMBER 15, 2010

R U O Y P O SH

AOTFFH!

THANKS YOU FOR SUPPORTING

SHOP YOUR ATH OFF!,

FLAGPOLE’S MOVEMENT TO ENCOURAGE SPENDING AT LOCAL, INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES AND WITH LOCAL ARTISTS WHO ARE THE BACKBONE OF OUR COMMUNITY!

WITH YOUR HELP, WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE

ECONOMIC HEALTH OF OUR COMMUNITY WHILE PROTECTING THE INDIE BUSINESSES THAT MAKE OUR CITY UNIQUE. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNERS: REBECCA SWANSON AMANDA HIGGINBOTHAM TOMMY MULKEY KATHLEEN MANSFIELD

IIKA McCONNELL DENISE DOMIZI JUNE COMPTON KATHRYN BAIRD REBECCA CHENEY BOBBI JO IMBROGNO ANNE BURNETT JERELYN WALLACE BETH CAMPBELL

KELLY McGLAUN-FIELDS NATALIE COX DARLA SVICH AMY ANDREWS

HUNDREDS

OF ATHENIANS MADE THE PLEDGE TO TRY TO SPEND $100 AT ATHENS’ INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES THIS HOLIDAY SEASON!

PLEASE COME BY THE FLAGPOLE OFFICE TO CLAIM YOUR GIFT CERTIFICATES OR CALL 706-549-0301.

So whether you are shopping, eating, drinking or seeking entertainment,

Allgood Lounge American Classic Tattoo Athens Vertical Pole Dance Academy Aurum Studios Bel-Jean Copy/Print Center Big City Bread Café Blockader Homebrew Supply Canopy Studio Casa Mia Cillies Cine BarCafe City Salon and Spa Classic Center Clocked Cofer’s Home and Garden

Daily Groceries DePalma’s Italian Cafe Dog Ear Books DowntownAthensGA.com DRee and Co. Dynamite Clothing Farm 255 Five Points Bottle Shop Five Star Day Cafe Floorspace Flora Hydroponics Frontier George’s Lowcountry Table Gnat’s Landing Bar and Grill Good Dirt

The Grit Helix Hendershot’s Coffee Bar Hilltop Grille Ike and Jane Inoko Sushi Express Jack’s Bar Junkman’s Daughter’s Brother Lock Nest Hair Studio Loft Art Supply Marti’s at Midday Masada Leather and Outdoor Max Canada Midnight Iguana Tattoo Musician’s Warehouse

The National Native America Gallery New Earth Music Hall Office Lounge Pain & Wonder Tattoo Studio P.S. Too Perry’s Convenience and Liquor Republic Salon Rocket Salon RPM R.Wood Studio Ceramics Shenanigans Salon Skate Shop of Athens Southern Waterbeds and Futons Square One Fish Co.

WE

RE

ATHEN

S.

WE ARE LOCAL

RG

Thanks to the participating local Flagpole advertisers:

A

O

THINK LOCAL FIRST!

WE ARE A PROUD MEMBER OF:

Ten Pins Tavern Terrapin Beer Co. Toshiro Japanese Express Treehouse Kid and Craft 2 Faced Skincare and Waxing Studio 283 Bar Urban Sanctuary Spa Vision Video Walker’s Coffee & Pub White Tiger Gourmet Whole

On behalf of Flagpole, we wish you peace and happiness this holiday season, and give our sincerest thanks for your pledge.

DECEMBER 15, 2010 · FLAGPOLE.COM

39

thURSDay, DeCeMBeR 16 liVe MUSiC With

the holy liaRS 10:30PM • FRee

FRiDay, DeCeMBeR 31

ClUB PUB neW yeaR'S eVe

CoMe Shake yoUR Booty into the neW yeaR!

CoMe Play the Wii! new board games!

FRee wi-Fi

ChaMPaGne toaSt at MiDniGht!

W

Book yoUR ChRiStMaS PaRty noW. GRoUP RateS aVailaBle. Clayton St • next to Shokitini 706-353-2831

256 E. CLAYTON ST.

100+ Whiskies 200+ Craft Beers AMAZING HAPPY HOUR 5-9pm

Yummy Food delivered from Speakeasy and Taco Stand!

20 SELECT DRAFT BEERS

Spacious Heated Patio!

Build Your Own Bloody Mary Bar

Best View of North Campus

150+ Bottled Beers Expanded Wine List Huge Screen TVs • Pool Tables

Check us out on the web at

Smoking Welcome on Our Patios Please Drink Responsibly.

Coffee & Pub

Book Your Private Holiday Parties in our newly renovated downstairs room!

(706) 549-0166 Open Mon-Sat Noon-2am www.allgoodlounge.com

WHEN GIFT SHOPPING REMEMBER

’ r s e k l a

blueskyathens.com Located Above

Taco Stand Downtown

Come Enjoy Our Outside Fire Pit with Hot Cocoa Drinks and

Sexy-Time Apple Cider

TM

Call Today!

706-207-6593

Brand New HDTVs! Happy Hour Mon-Fri 4-9

New Winter Drinks!

Large Selection of

Sexy-Time Apple Cider is a trademark of Chris Weiand. Any use of the term Sexy-Time Apple Cider must have written consent of Chris Weiand.

Coffee, Tea and Spirited Drinks

260 EAST WASHINGTON STREET DOWNTOWN • 706-369-3040 TOP OF JACKSON ST. 12 STEPS FROM THE CORNER

128 College Ave. 706-543-1433

TM

www.WalkersCoffee.com