Fp191218

LOCALLY OWNED SINCE 1987

Our Favorite Local Music of 2019 p. 8

DECEMBER 18, 2019 · VOL. 33 · NO. 50 · FREE

COLORBEARER OF ATHENS BUMPING REINDEER BANGERS

flagpole invites you to

Your Neighborhood Bookshop Thank you for 8 great years on Prince Ave.!

Avid Bookshop is downsizing. At the end of 2019, we’ll be closing our Prince Ave. location.

Our shop in Five Points will remain open.

Support our local economy Shop at Athens-owned businesses… or lose them www.flagpole.com

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FLAGPOLE.COM | DECEMBER 18, 2019

Come say goodbye to #avidonprince between now and the end of December. And join us for a big party on Saturday, 12/28 from 6-10pm.

Thank you, Athens. We’ll miss being on Prince and appreciate your ongoing support of all of the other Athens-based businesses (including our Five Points shop). Details at avidbookshop.com 493 Prince Avenue • 1662 S. Lumpkin St. 706-352-2060 • 706-850-2843

this week’s issue

contents

STACEY-MARIE PIOTROWSKI

Lunch, Dinner & Weekend Brunch

HOLIDAY ORDERS

AVAILABLE FOR PICKUP DEC. 23 & DEC. 24 FROM 11:00 A.M–3:00 P.M.

PLACE ORDER

BY DEC. 20.

SWEATER WEATHER: Athens producer and emcee WesdaRuler put out one of Flagpole’s favorite local albums of the year. Read more on p. 8.

City Dope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 NEWS: Feature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

This Modern World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Local Businesses on Prince Are Struggling

Comment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Street Scribe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Top 10 Albums . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

MUSIC: Feature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Threats & Promises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Uncle Goo’s Holiday Gift Guide

Art Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 FOOD: Grub Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

The Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

International Grill Offers Persian Eats

Bulletin Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Art Around Town . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

MOVIES: Movie Dope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Drew’s Favorite Flicks of 2019

Adopt Me . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Puzzles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Flickskinny . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Hey, Bonita . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Local Comics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Pub Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 JESSICA SILVERMAN

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR & PUBLISHER Alicia Nickles EDITOR & PUBLISHER Pete McCommons PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Larry Tenner ADVERTISING SALES Anita Aubrey, Jessica Pritchard Mangum MANAGING EDITOR & MUSIC EDITOR Gabe Vodicka CITY EDITOR Blake Aued ARTS EDITOR & DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Jessica Smith CLASSIFIEDS Jessica Smith AD DESIGNERS Chris McNeal, Cody Robinson CARTOONISTS Lee Gatlin, Missy Kulik, Jeremy Long, David Mack PHOTOGRAPHER Whitley Carpenter CONTRIBUTORS Bonita Applebum, Andy Barton, Hillary Brown, Lily Guthrie, Anna Haas, Dan Jackson, Nathan Kerce, Gordon Lamb, Dink NeSmith, Ed Tant, Drew Wheeler CIRCULATION Charles Greenleaf, Ernie LoBue, Mike Merva, Taylor Ross OFFICE ASSISTANT Zaria Gholston EDITORIAL INTERNS Jessie Goodson, Caroline Gregor, Reid Koski, Rosemary Scott

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COVER ART by Jessica Smith (see Top 10 Albums on p. 8) STREET ADDRESS: 220 Prince Ave., Athens, GA 30601 MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box 1027, Athens, GA 30603 EDITORIAL: 706-549-9523 · ADVERTISING: 706-549-0301 · FAX: 706-548-8981 CLASSIFIED ADS: class@flagpole.com ADVERTISING: ads@flagpole.com CALENDAR: calendar@flagpole.com EDITORIAL: editorial@flagpole.com

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Flagpole, Inc. publishes Flagpole Magazine weekly and distributes 14,500 copies free at over 275 locations around Athens, Georgia. Subscriptions cost $70 a year, $40 for six months. © 2019 Flagpole, Inc. All rights reserved.

VOLUME 33 ISSUE NUMBER 50

Residential • Office • Construction • Move In • Move Out

comments section “Thanks for this piece, Emileigh. You’re certainly not alone in feeling overworked and underpaid in Athens… More discussions need to be held on this topic for sure, before everyone just moves away.”

— Laura Jacqueline St. Martin From “Ten 2019 Shows That (I’m Sure) Were Fire (but I Missed Due to Work Obligations),” at flagpole.com.

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news

city dope

Means to an End BOE WILL APPOINT INTERIM AFTER OUSTING SUPERINTENDENT

By Blake Aued news@flagpole.com The Clarke County Board of Education leave.” The board then held a closed meeting voted last week to place Superintendent on Dec. 3 to, as Gantt put it, “enter into Demond Means on leave and name his chief negotiations for [Means’] exit.” of staff, Xernona Thomas, the chief execMeans later walked back his Nov. 21 utive until an interim superintendent is statement, telling a crowd at a community found—which may have already happened meeting on Dec. 7 that “if there’s anything by the time you read this.

I can do to mend fences, I will do it.” But The 5–3 vote at a called meeting Dec. 9 clearly his already rocky relationship with a ended Means’ tumultuous two-and-a-half majority of board members had been damyear tenure, although a number of details aged beyond repair. remain to be worked out, including any Seventeen people spoke at the board’s severance package. Means’ contract runs regularly scheduled meeting on Dec. 12, through the 2021–2022 school year, so he most of them in favor of Means. “We want is owed more than $500,000 if he’s fired quality education for black children. It is without cause. long overdue,” local civil rights leader Fred Greg Davis, Kara Dyckman, Patricia Smith Sr. told the board. “It’s a shame what Yager, Tawana Mattox and John Knox you’ve done. I don’t know how you look voted in favor of the motion, while Charles yourselves in the mirror.”

Worthy, Linda Davis and LaKeisha Gantt Former mayoral candidate Charlie voted against it. District 2 representative Maddox said he is starting a recall petition Frances Berry resigned last month, leaving to remove the board members who voted that seat vacant. to relieve Means of “I would like to his duties. “We can’t The great cause of equity wait until 2020,” he say publicly that I am disheartened,” said is being overshadowed by said. “We can’t wait Gantt, the board presuntil 2022.” And Alvin all the baggage of one man. ident. “Having done Sheats, president equity work, I know of the local NAACP Clarke County is a special place, but we have chapter, urged those board members to some real issues we have to tackle as a city resign. “One, four, five, eight, nine, it might and as a school district.” be your time,” he said, referring to the disYager said she was sad to make the tricts they represent. motion, which drew jeers from a mostly Some speakers laid the blame on the pro-Means audience that had waited for Athens Land Trust, accusing the group of hours while the board met behind closed orchestrating Means’ ouster to get its hands doors. Yager said she is grateful to Means on the old West Broad School property. But for starting CCSD down the path of racial as Flagpole reported last week, the land equity and is interested in the next superin- trust has moved on and found another site tendent continuing in that direction. for its farmers market, community garden After a discussion about an ethics comand planned community center. plaint filed against Means in May, Means Others told the board it made the right told the board at a Nov. 21 meeting that decision. “The great cause of equity is “you don’t want me as superintendent, and being overshadowed by all the baggage of we need to have a discussion about how I one man,” said UGA law professor Usha

Rodrigues. “I see drama and fighting and confusion that distracts us from where we should be focused.”

Some have questioned the contracts with outside consultants Means signed, and parent Janet Frick urged the board to return to the $10,000 spending limit that was raised to $80,000 during his tenure. “That would help restore some community trust and accountability,” she said. Teacher Brent Andrews reminded the audience that people are profiting off the idea that public schools are failing.

2018 BOE candidate Imani ScottBlackwell said teachers feel like they are discouraged from speaking out. She also asked the board to prove or disprove ex-CCSD teacher Karen Sweeney Gerow’s analysis of test score data showing that black students have made little to no progress, in spite of Means’ contention that some schools are starting to close the racial gap.

Although some board members said they should hold off on appointing an interim

superintendent until a new District 2 representative is appointed, a meeting was called for Dec. 17 to appoint an interim superintendent, as well as hire a law firm to help the board deal with a complaint of micromanagement to the accreditation agency Cognia (formerly known as SACS and AdvancED). At the Dec. 12 meeting, the board voted 5–2 to dismiss a micromanagement allegation made by Means against Knox, which made up part of Means’ September response to Cognia in support of an investigation. Linda Davis and Worthy wanted a hearing—even though Means himself had said he preferred to work it out with Knox informally—and Knox abstained.

Information about the District 2 application process was posted on the CCSD website last week, and the deadline to apply is Jan. 10. The board is scheduled to vote on Berry’s replacement Jan. 16. Elections are in May for that seat and the district 4, 6 and 8 seats currently held by Yager, Worthy and Knox. f

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comment

rials tastes bad ethically, too.

If you or I made a backyard bonfire of creosote crossties, we could expect the long arm of the law to knock on our doors. In GRP’s defense, it cites an Environmental Protection Agency 2016 rules shift that allows industries to operate by a different standard. If you follow the money behind the change, you’ll discover public-be-damned industrial lobbyists behind the scenes.

By Dink NeSmith dnesmith@cninewspapers.com As the meeting at Madison County High School droned on, I had to leave. But I had heard enough to make me “Your actions speak so loudly, I cannot hear what you ties. The street talk was spot on. There the ties were, thouwonder why GRP would risk the public uprising evidenced are saying.” sands of them, stacked and ready to be chipped for the fire. in the school’s cafeteria and the recent rip tide of letters — Ralph Waldo Emerson It was the kind of day marked by dreary, low hanging to the editor. Again, I kept thinking: “Follow the money. clouds. At first, I thought it was fog over the asphalt road.

Follow the money.” And that thought was punctuated by If Emerson were living in our neck of the woods these days, As I drove through creosote laced smoke, my nose and what Norman Vincent Peale once pointed out: “There’s no I am confident he would repeat those words about Georgia throat told me otherwise. I coughed all the way back to right way to do a wrong thing.” So, how does GRP defend its Renewable Power (GRP) plant’s early track crosstie-burning logic? record in Madison County. Maybe, just maybe, I understand why Madison and Franklin the biomass energy plant can recover its repcounties would want new industry and a utation. But burning sooty creosote crossties broadened tax base. Jobs are vital to the ecoin Colbert has decreased those odds. GRP’s nomic health of every community. I’m sure, Carnesville plant, in its early stages, is getting in the beginning, that’s what drove both sets some environmental pushback, too. of leaders to go pro-biomass burning. Now, I don’t live in Madison County or Franklin you have to wonder whether this is a classic County, but I can stand in our Oglethorpe bait-and-switch scheme, where one thing was County yard and see the black smoke, hear the ballyhooed and another thing was delivered. A clanging and smell the creosote in the air. And Madison County friend said that he was told at night—when I look past the mule barn—I the only emissions would be fast dissipating see more than the customary stars twinkling steam. He said, “We were hoodooed.” in the black velvet sky. There is the big city, I’ve read GRP’s published we-want-tobright white glow of multi-storied GRP in be-a-good-corporate-citizen message in The Colbert. On Dec. 5, when I returned from the Madison County Journal. I’d like to believe that.

Madison County Clean Power Coalition’s town I really would. But propped on our pasture’s hall meeting in Danielsville, I was greeted by fence and looking at the black smoke belching the dangerous odor just described by scientific from three miles away, I can hear the spirit GRP’s burning creosote crossties in Colbert has created questionable smoke and a public outcry. experts. of Ralph Waldo Emerson whispering into my Two Saturdays earlier, I got a more potent ear. f sniff. After picking up supplies from the feed store in the farm. The experience left me with a bad taste in my Dink NeSmith is president of Athens-based Community Newspapers, Colbert, I drove next door to get a closer view of GPR. I mouth—two ways. Creosote is repugnant to your taste wanted to see the much-talked-about mountain of railroad buds. An industry burning wood pumped full of toxic mate- Inc.

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news The

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FLAGPOLE.COM | DECEMBER 18, 2019

street scribe

The Gift of Books A FEW IDEAS FOR PRINTED HOLIDAY PRESENTS

By Ed Tant news@flagpole.com If you’re in a Christmas crunch or a Hanukkah hurry, think of giving books for the holidays. They’re easy to wrap, they don’t break if you drop them, and a good book will last a lifetime. Here are just a few books that I have enjoyed recently and in years past.

This year marked the 100th anniversary of the death of President Theodore Roosevelt. Historian David Pietrusza weighed in on the occasion with his latest book, TR’s Last War. The book tells the riveting and readable story of Roosevelt’s conflicts with President Woodrow Wilson as World War I loomed, and it also chronicles Teddy’s triumphs and tragedies as he contended with political change, physical decline and personal grief after the loss of a son in the war. It’s a fitting companion volume to Pietrusza’s earlier books on the elections and politics of 1920, 1932, 1948 and 1960. Though sometimes billed as a conservative historian, the author’s fast paced works can be enjoyed by readers from either side of the political aisle.

Under This Roof: The White House and the Presidency by Paul Brandus is a lively and enlightening look at historic events that have happened at the world’s most famous home address: 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., Washington, DC. The story begins with John Adams, the first president to live in the White House. In 1800, he wrote words about the residence that Americans should still hope for today: “May none but honest and wise men ever rule under this roof.” The book includes stories of events under that roof during the administrations of 21 chief executives, including Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson, James Knox Polk, Abraham Lincoln, Warren Harding, Franklin Roosevelt, John Kennedy, Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama.

I was honored to have an article about President Harding that I wrote for the Athens Banner-Herald in 2013 included in this book’s footnotes.

Adams wanted “honest and wise men” in the White House, but the presidency of Donald Trump might have Adams crying in his grave. Fear: Trump in the White House

by Bob Woodward is a chilling inside view of the administration of this nation’s 45th president. The Washington Post’s Woodward has twice received the Pulitzer Prize for his coverage of the Watergate scandal and the terrorist attacks of 9/11. Woodward is most famous as the co-author of the Nixon-era book All the President’s Men. In Fear, he exposes all this president’s mendacity.

It Can’t Happen Here by Sinclair Lewis is a fictional tale of America under the iron fist of a fascist dictatorship. Written in 1935, the book has had a resurgence in sales since Trump’s election. In the book, a homegrown Hitler ascends to power in the land of the free as millions of citizens insist that an authoritarian regime “can’t happen

here.” Millions more Americans support the dictator as long as he improves the economy and convinces them that he can end the Depression and make America great again. Lewis was the first American to win the Nobel Prize for literature, and his books like Main Street, Babbitt, Elmer Gantry, Arrowsmith and It Can’t Happen Here show why. He died in 1951, but if he were alive today, Lewis might still be saying, “I love America. I just don’t like it.”

Political books were big this year as the impeachment of Donald Trump and the upcoming 2020 election dominated the headlines, but this year also marked the 50th anniversary of a loftier event, the first landing on the moon by the men of Apollo 11 in 1969. That significant anniversary got much airplay and media ink this year,

but how quickly we forget that there actually were nine missions to the moon from 1968–1972. Missions to the Moon by Rod Pyle is a must for every space buff’s bookshelf. The book gives equal coverage to all the American lunar missions that began with the Christmastime orbiting of the moon by the crew of Apollo 8 in 1968. In all, there were three lunar orbital flights by Apollo 8, Apollo 10 and the ill-fated Apollo 13. Six successful lunar landings were made during the Apollo program, culminating with the three-day stay on the moon by the astronauts of Apollo 17 in 1972. Missions to the Moon tells the thrilling story of all of them with prose, photos and interactive apps.

These books and so many more make for great reading during the holidays or any time during an age when so many seem to prefer a screen over the printed page.

Mark Twain was right when he wrote, “The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who can’t read them.” f

news

feature

Locally Owned Businesses Are Struggling IT’S HARD TO GET BY FOR AVID, DAILY AND OTHERS

By Dan Jackson news@flagpole.com

Avid

Bookshop owner Janet Geddis reached us keep writing this narrative” and “come shop!” The two out last week to her store’s thousands of stores almost feel like siblings, nestled together and sharing customers and social media followers with a 3,000-word customers on a corner of quirky, early 20th Century brick message announcing the upcoming closure of the store’s buildings along a busy stretch of Prince Avenue just west of Prince Avenue location, adding that it will retain its larger the Bottleworks.

Lumpkin Street site in Five Points.

Both Geddis and Daily Co-op manager Kara Brown say In the wake of Ike & Jane’s sudden closure last month that sales at their stores are down in 2019. Geddis added as a result of a big rent increase, the news stunned that Avid’s Five Points location also posted lower sales this Normaltown, which has boomed in recent years with the year. Despite the downturn, or perhaps prompted by it, establishment of home-grown Avid is continuing to increase sales restaurants, bars, juice shops and with savvy, aggressive marketing When you are a struggling campaigns that build on its ability to cafés. Geddis’ decision was partially based on challenges negotiating a small business, there’s not attract customers and develop lastlong-term lease for the Cobbham ing relationships. a lot of security to fall back on. space. Just down the street, These retail hubs now serve far Flagpole’s new landlord recently more important roles in their neighraised the rent by $1,600 a month, prompting the locally borhoods than simply providing reading materials and owned newspaper to sublease space and ask readers for food to local customers, Geddis said. In the age of online donations. shopping, the stores also serve as vital activity nodes that “Avid Bookshop is safe, but I need to tell you somespur social interactions and help banish isolation, known thing,” Geddis wrote. “Effective December 31, 2019, we to be particularly dangerous for seniors. Geddis cites the will be closing Avid Bookshop on Prince Avenue, shifting widely known research that “social isolation can be as risky to a one-store model once again.” She then added, “Did as smoking,” adding that even deeply introverted customyou gasp? I’ve known this news for a bit and still find that ers eventually warm to Avid booksellers and begin to talk the preceding sentence leaves me feeling a little short of and share their interests. The bookshop’s agile employees breath.” have developed ways to spur book sales by maintaining regular contact with customers and creating custom messages that cater to the specific interests of their book buyers. They also host author readings and regularly appear at events such as the recent David Sedaris appearance at the Classic Center, where the shop set up a table to sell the writer’s books.

In an interview, Geddis said she was surprised at the response to her email, and that nearly 60 local business owners and employees representing 30 Athens companies wrote and echoed the concerns she described. They also shared the anxieties of owning struggling small businesses in a retail world increasingly dominated by large, publicly traded retailers that compete aggressively with lowprice strategies.

Bain Mattox, a local Avid Bookshop recently announced that its Prince Avenue location is closing. musician and owner of Normal Bar, Automatic The memo continued with a lengthy FAQ section that Pizza and Buvez, is a loyal customer and friend of both Avid portrays the painful decision-making process behind the and Daily. He understands the struggle of operating small store closing and the beloved shop’s road forward. businesses. “Sometimes we feel like we are under attack Geddis opened Avid’s Prince location in the fall of 2011 more than supported” by the city, he said, citing as particuafter investing four years and $60,000 developing the store. lar sources of anxiety blue laws and occupational taxes that Opening well after Amazon had already devoured a huge increase as owners hire new employees. share of the bookselling market, the store’s early success Sanni Baumgaertner of Community, a downtown spewas marked by strong sales, well-stocked shelves emphacialty shop featuring local and Georgia-made fashions and sizing quality literary works and frequent author readings. gifts, also echoed the concerns shared by Geddis. “When Many were surprised and delighted that Athens could supyou are a struggling small business, there’s not a lot of secuport an independent, upmarket bookstore. rity to fall back on,” she said.

Almost simultaneously with Geddis’ email, the Daily Daniel Cullen, senior strategy officer for the American Groceries Co-op, which sits almost next door to Avid’s Booksellers Association, praised Avid’s success: “People Prince Avenue location, posted a similarly anguished note can go to Avid to connect with authors [giving readings] on Facebook that alerted its followers that “this year has but also with their own community. That’s what makes the been especially rough for us,” asking for customers to “help store a special place.” f

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NOTICE

The vacancy resulting from the resignation of Dr. Frances Berry as a member ofthe Clarke County Board of Education will be filled by the Board pursuant to Georgia Laws 1993, Page 3514, Section (5)(f)(2), which provides: “The remaining members of the board shall appoint a qualified resident of the education district wherein the vacancy occurred to servefor the remainder of the unexpired term anduntil a successor is elected and qualified.”

Any qualified resident residing in District 2, Clarke County Board of Education,and desiring to serve on the Clarke County Board of Education for the remainder of the term through December 31, 2020, is invited to submit a letter of interest, biographical sketch, and up to two signed letters of support to: LaKeisha Gantt, Board President Clarke County Board of Education 440-1 Dearing Extension Athens, Georgia 30606 Applicants must reside in District 2, and meet the qualifications required by law. The following materials must be delivered to the Clarke County Board of Education Office, 440-1 Dearing Extension, Athens, Georgia 30606, personally orby U.S. Mail by 4:30 p.m., Friday, January 10, 2020: 1. A signed letter of interest 2. A resume or biographical sketch 3. Two letters of recommendation from supporters This 13th day of December, 2019.

LaKeisha Gantt President Clarke County Board of Education

DECEMBER 18, 2019 | FLAGPOLE.COM

7

music

feature

LOCALS ONLY

flagpole’s 10 Favorite Albums of 2019

ON

the surface, 2019 was a relatively quiet year in Athens music. The big dawgs mostly laid low, while nary a buzzy breakout could be found. But the absence of an obvious flag-bearer seemed to inspire artists to make their own statements, freeing them up to explore sonics and styles of their choosing. As a result, the house show scene thrived, and downtown’s sound continued to diversify. These shifts led to some of the most vibrant and compelling releases in recent memory, from mindful hip hop to breakneck punk to heartrending folk and more. Here, in alphabetical order, are Flagpole’s 10 favorite local albums of the past 12 months, with gratitude to these musicians and the many others who kept things interesting this year. [Gabe Vodicka] of reality to the violence that pierces the record, before resurfacing with a final, eight-minute reflection. [Anna Haas]

Calico Vision: Calico Vision Blending psychedelic pop and indie rock, Calico Vision’s self-titled album melts like a creamsicle from one song into the next, with dreamy guitar lines and trippy keyboard melodies spindling endlessly outward. “Cycles” is a soothing swirl of topsy-turvy synth, overlaid with vocals from Bren Bailey. Jazzy track “Megahex” dapples the record with an investigative bass line, coastal percussion and dueling vocals that ring with conch-like reverberation. The celestial effects of “Whale” and “Pitted Pete” swaddle the end of the album with balmy certitude. [Lily Guthrie]

Deep State: The Path to Fast Oblivion Flying under the two-minute mark isn’t unusual for Deep State, but “The Soft Room” collides into “Accomplice” with so little fuss you may find yourself on the second track while still feeling like you’re sinking into the first. From there, wailing guitars jostle you forward. Even in slowed moments where unfamiliar voices call you to linger, there’s an underlying propulsion toward “Oblivion.” On this second-to-last track, voicemail messages overlay subdued instrumentation and add a closer sense

8

Grand Vapids: Eat the Shadow Don’t call it a comeback. Hailed as a band destined for big things based on the strength of 2015’s Guarantees, Grand Vapids instead succumbed to personnel shake-ups and creative deadlock, leading to four years of recorded silence that ended with the release of the Rake EP in February.

Finally, in July, we got the long-awaited second full-length, which more prominently features the writing of co-frontman Austin Harris and finds the band moving away from the chunky slowcore of its early days towards something nervier and more urgent—the sound of a group making up for lost time. [GV]

Kenosha Kid: Missing Pieces Berklee-trained guitarist Dan Nettles set out to shed genre labels once and for all with Missing Pieces, an album that sees the musician working to process loss and change but embracing lightness throughout. On standout tracks like “After This” and “How Would It All Fit,” Kenosha Kid

FLAGPOLE.COM | DECEMBER 18, 2019

puts ultra-humanist touches on brainy post-rock, keeping the emphasis on mood and melody even as the time signatures dazzle. The biggest surprise of the bunch is “Waiting for the Dam to Break,” a twangy, twilit acoustic number on which Nettles and band surrender to blissful simplicity. [GV]

Outersea: Outersea So many contemporary indie-pop and rock acts draw on elements of surf rock to fit their own diluted mold that it was refreshing to finally hear Outersea’s self-titled debut album—a tried and true testament to the genre. Rooted in all the touchstones fans of The Ventures and Dick Dale have come to know and love, and with little to no emphasis on vocals, the band’s instrumental chops and chemistry take center stage, steering their songs between cinematic drama and psychedelic fun. [Andy Barton]

LeeAnn Peppers: For Asha, With Hope LeeAnn Peppers is Athens’ best-kept secret. Her online presence is minimal, with her excellent 2017 debut, What Isn’t Said, only available on CD. Her follow-up is, thankfully, a lot easier to get ahold of.

Dedicated to the memory of a friend lost to cancer, For Asha, With Hope is a beautiful and affecting chronicle of Peppers’ years-long grieving process. Over simple but immersive instrumentation, Peppers relives memories of her friend in immaculate, emotionally painful detail. Eventually, linear storytelling gives way to a poetic meditation on how dealing with sickness complicates relationships with friends, God and one’s own conscience. [Nathan Kerce]

Rottweiler: Rottweiler Rottweiler’s debut has all the hallmarks of a hall-of-fame local hardcore album.

Every song title is written in ALL CAPS. (“CONSTANT WAR” is my personal favorite.) Every rhythm moves at a heart attack pace. The total runtime of the album is less than 10 minutes. The band is made up of members of countless other local acts. Just about the only thing holding Rottweiler back from being hardcore legends is the fact that they’re still together—though who knows if that will still be true by the time this is published. These six songs saw release on Valentine’s Day but have maintained their status as one of the year’s most potent musical adrenaline shots, the sonic equivalent of watching an exploding barbed wire wrestling match.[NK] Sailors and Ships: Sailors and Ships After over a decade of backing countless groups around town, drummer Jeremy Wheatley released the first taste of his own tunes as Sailors and Ships, and, boy, was it worth the wait. As a singer-songwriter, Wheatley crafts sweet, seemingly simple ditties that belie troves of thematically rich lyrics, all accentuated with the slightest but most appropriate of studio additives.

Though he hasn’t expressed much interest in putting all his creative eggs into the S&S basket, Athens will surely be better off if

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WesdaRuler: Ocean Drive Already well known for his production skills—not to mention his role as Linqua Franqa’s beat-maker/sidekick/ hype man—Wesley Johnson broke all the way out with Ocean Drive, his debut LP for HHBTM Records. Besides being a superb showcase of Johnson’s jazzy, minimalist production—which veers intriguingly towards Afrofuturist funk on tracks like “Wannado”—the album features the emcee’s tightest lyricism to date, striking a balance between hedonistic escapism and necessary self-care. Mindfulness never sounded so damn fresh. [GV] f

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Wanderwild: Sleep Tight, Socialite Matt Martin has been steadily gaining traction with his solo project turned full band, but Wanderwild’s second full-length seemed as clear a restart as any. Written and recorded alongside bassist Taylor Cotton and drummer Wes Gregory, the album traded ethereal atmospherics for leaner yet no less melodic songwriting that fits snugly between the 2000s post-punk revival and an episode of “The O.C.”—which is to say, it’s both cool and commercially viable. The band has continued to evolve, showcasing a new five-person lineup, and has proven to be one of the most exciting and promising groups to come out of Athens in some time. [AB]

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music

feature

music

threats & promises

Uncle Goo’s Gift Guide

The Pink Stones Meet the WaterMan

HOLIDAY IDEAS FROM ATHENS’ LATEST COUNTRY SENSATION

PLUS, MORE MUSIC NEWS AND GOSSIP

By Gabe Vodicka music@flagpole.com

By Gordon Lamb threatsandpromises@flagpole.com

A

fter sidling up to the scene with the Country Strange Vol. 1 EP back in January, Athens area country sensation Uncle Goo reappeared just before Halloween with Cattywampus!!!, another six-song collection of highly offbeat, highly enjoyable roots music released in conjunction with longstanding Lavonia label and artist collective Gypsy Farm.

The record, a standout in both concept and execution, is equal parts outlaw twang, gonzo flair and Northeast Georgia weird, featuring songs like “I Hung Myself”

Goo says. “Start off by saying something like, ‘You’re using up all the good commode time! LET ME IN!’ The rest will follow. Be sure to yell extra loud, or they may miss the point.”

2. An Alligator Head From One of Those Gift Shops in Florida Feel free to get creative with this one, says Goo, explaining, “I use my gator’s mouth to hold spare change. Hell, I’m almost up to $7! It’s the gift that keeps on giving, Clark.”

Well, folks, another year of Athens music is heading into the sunset. It’s been a long time since Athens had such a full-on, knockout year for music. I’ve honestly no idea what to attribute this to, but the number of incredible local releases and totally amazing shows this year made 2019 one for the books. Hell of a way to close a decade, folks. Good on you. There’s still a little news left to talk about before we roll into the new year, so look below for all that talk…

PASS THE AMMUNITION: The Pink Stones

will release their new double single Jesus & Jimmy (“Jesus & Peterbuilt” b/w “The Ballad of Jimmy Meadows”) Friday, Dec. 20 and will celebrate Thursday, Dec. 19 at Flicker Theatre and Bar along with the Athens Cowboy Choir, Dylan and Earl, and Johnson and Beskin Got a Stew Goin’ (aka Thomas Johnson from Futurebirds and Drew Beskin of Laser Brains). The whole

and “When I Die (Bury Me at the Waffle House),” darkly funny tunes that conjure a certain fatalist strain of traditional country music. “I want all my ashes to be scattered, smothered and covered,” Goo croons on the record’s All-Star Special of a closing track, “and Big Jim by the grill can sing ‘Amazing Grace.’”

Goo, the stage creation of songwriter and actor Garrett Chase Carpenter, will play his third-ever show in Athens Friday evening at the Caledonia, where he’ll be backed by his all-star band, The Country Dragons—which includes members of Elf Power and The Humms—and joined on the bill by fellow local dirt-road jammers Georgia Dish Boys and Harry Carey frontman Jim Willingham. With Christmas just around the corner, expect the show to be spiked with plenty of holiday cheer.

To preview the concert and celebrate the season, we invited Carpenter—er, Goo—to send over a list of last-minute holiday gift ideas for those special someones in your life. Check them out below, and get to givin’.

3. A Nice, Firm Belly Rub “This one is not just for dawgs,” Goo insists. “They won’t admit it, but most folks love ’em a good rub on the belly.”

It’s a low-cost gift that has the added benefit of boosting the recipient’s self-esteem. “It lets them know they’re doing pretty good, all things considered,” says Goo.

Real Good Tips for Some Real Goo Gifts: Give ’em…

WHO: Uncle Goo, Georgia Dish Boys, Jim Willingham WHERE: Caledonia Lounge WHEN: Friday, Dec. 20, 9 p.m.

HOW MUCH: $7 (21+), $9 (18–20)

1. A Piece of Your Damn Mind “Don’t hold back now—let ’em have it!”

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4. Something to Believe In As we head into 2020, we could all use a little guiding light. “Go on ahead and start that religion you’ve been talking about,” Goo recommends. “It’s tax free, and there’s never been a better time for cults of personality. Strike while the iron’s hot!”

5. The Key to the City of Bowman This one’s easy. “All you have to do is eat at The Berryman House Restaurant five nights in a row and leave a good tip,” says Goo. “Perfect for the rural bon vivant.” f

FLAGPOLE.COM | DECEMBER 18, 2019

don’t think too much about it. Otherwise, careful listeners will notice its creaks in the middle and feeling of non-resolution at the end. For his part, Monotronique weighs in with “Organ Music,” which actually is soothing all the way through, albeit a little too heavy-handed to be described as “ambient.” This release comes courtesy of Berlin’s Vaagner label, and you can find out more via vaagner.bandcamp.com.

OPEN YR PRESENTS: Musician, composer and woodshedder Chris Amell has been recording and producing under the name Peaks for several years and just released a new album named Topographic. It would be a wild understatement to say I was thrilled for this to cross my desk. One click through to his High Grade Media Bandcamp page revealed a veritable treasure trove of heretofore unlistened to—by me, at least— recordings going back to at least 2009.

The Pink Stones

show is a benefit for all-volunteer animal rescue Athenspets, so lay off those guest list requests, would ya? It’s not often that this happens, but the Athens music gods smiled upon the young Pink Stones with “Jesus & Peterbuilt.” It was a gift to the band from legendary Athens country artist and well known WaterMan Greg Reece (Redneck GReece Delux). He thought the band needed a truck driving song, so he wrote this one and gave it to ’em. Can I get an amen, y’all? By the way, the song cooks in a manner similar to, say, regular speed Gram Parsons, or maybe more relaxed Buck Owens. For more information, see facebook.com/thepinkstoners, and while you’re getting informed, check out all the sweet faces at facebook.com/AthensPets.

HALF SLEEP: Quiet Evenings (Grant and Rachel Evans) returns on half of a split release between themselves and Monotronique (Roman Kurhan). The cassette is named Patience, and, at least in this context, that’s more helpfully instructive than declarative. The Quiet Evenings track, “Distance,” is subtle and only calming if you

Anyway, Topographic features eight tracks that explore the danceable area of electronic ambiance with specific moments of melodic glitchiness, trip-hop swagger and ice-cold crafty diligence. Fans of Aphex Twin and, to a lesser extent, Tricky will dig this a lot.

Highlights include “What We Became,” “Are You Awake or Just Dreaming?” and “Big Sky.” Check this out at highgrademedia. bandcamp.com, and be a fan at facebook. com/HighGradeMedia.

SEASON’S MEANINGS: Annie Leeth just released her new album, Mortal, and it’s a real headphone humdinger. Especially pleasing are the chamber concentrations of “Tube Screamer,” the gentle electric piano composition “Almost 22” and the subtly urgent “Redo! Redo!”. I need a little more time with this one to fully take it in, but I’m quite happy on first blush. Leeth is an artist in the truest sense, such that it’s advisable to set aside any expectations and just experience each piece of work on an as is, ad hoc basis and then let it coalesce into a whole piece. Start ad-hocing at annieleeth.bandcamp.com. See y’all in 2020! f

arts & culture

art notes

From FUN to Dark Corners WHERE TO FIND EXCITING WORKS THIS WEEK

By Jessica Smith arts@flagpole.com While many galleries choose to schedule a quiet break around the holidays in order to regroup for the new year, there are still a few safe bets around town for where to find artwork this week. Two new exhibitions will open at the Georgia Museum of Art this Saturday. “Master, Pupil, Follower: 16th to 18th Century Italian Works on Paper” includes roughly 30 drawings and prints selected to represent various artistic styles and Italian regional schools, while “The Monsters Are Due on Broad Street: Patrick Dean” provides a retrospective look at the local cartoonist and longtime Flagpole contributor’s illustration career. In addition to “WILD,” a show inspired by the new children’s garden at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia, the Lyndon House Arts Center recently opened “Interior Worlds

by Leah McKellop,” a small body of work exploring personal history within domestic spaces through printmaking and silk dying techniques.

Perhaps the easiest spot to drop in is the Gallery at Hotel Indigo, where the group exhibition “FUN” attempts to carry the joyful abandon of summer through the winter months. Seven artists working in a variety of mediums contribute pieces that are both vibrant and playful, and thankfully offset our landscape’s bare trees and increasingly chilly weather.

Brittainy Lauback’s photographs epitomize carefree leisure. “Corrie in the Pool,” a portrait of a woman calmly drifting through water on a swim ring, is relaxing to imagine, while “Boy in the Bumper Car,” a giddy kid revved up and ready to win, shares a sense of excitement. Neil Hancock’s large painting, “When Pigs Fly,” is fantastical and equally light-hearted. Loose brushstrokes depict a bright pink pig soaring above a red barn while a full sea foam green moon watches down from a starry sky.

from scrapbooks depicting a local chapter of Future Homemakers of America from 1956–1967, the “Fed Up” series explores ideas of losing a woman’s identity and individuality through domestic labor. Using the miniatures to obscure their sensory organs, Truesdale draws attention to the complex relationship women have held with both food consumption and preparation.

Marla Star’s trippy pen-on-paper illustrations tap into a psychedelic dimension where disembodied eyes and clawed hands float among neon geometric shapes and patterns.

Ultra precise lines and meticulously dotted details sprawl across stark white backgrounds in a way that feels both jarring and hypnotizing. Star’s pointillism approach is echoed in the playful creations of Jolene O’Brien, who repurposes old vinyl records into canvases covered in mesmerizing dots. Perhaps influenced by traditional Aboriginal art, tiny drops of color assemble into mandala-like patterns and visually vibrate to their own rhythm.

The mixed media works of Kim Truesdale are incredibly eye-catching and distinct for their absurdity, despite their more somber backstory. Her “Fed Up” series depicts portraits of women whose faces are partially obscured by teeny, tiny pieces of Kim Truesdale in “FUN” food. Sculpted perfectly to scale, and nailing the appearance of texture without fail, these Katherine Miele takes the comfort miniature polymer clay foods immediately indoors to plush, embroidered armchairs bring the viewer in close. Pulling portraits and couches. Prismatic splotches of color

create a calico effect, and one interior scene of a staircase, “Spiraling,” is particularly alluring for its dizzying chaos of thread.

Miele’s attention to silhouettes and color blocking is complemented by Hannah Betzel’s abstract works. Drawing the eye primarily to the edges and intersections of forms, her painted paper collages occasionally lock into focus with a gingko leaf suddenly popping to the forefront.

Open to visitors around the clock, the outdoor GlassCube presents “Supple Moments, Dark Corners,” a new site-specific installation by local artist Eli Saragoussi. Leaning on elements of set design, the tropical environment is constructed from cartoonish characters and plants painted onto masonite. The whimsical world is inhabited by anthropomorphic characters like a hissing rattlesnake, flying purple elephant and blue gorilla wearing a gold chain. Wide-eyed fish and aquatic organisms like kelp and anemone coexist among an earthbound tree and flowering bush, requesting that visitors suspend their disbelief and accept multiple ecosystems coexisting at once.

The installation is worthy of a return visit during moonlight hours, when dozens of pairs of glowing, fluorescent eyes glare out from every corner of the GlassCube.

“Supple Moments, Dark Corners” is also accompanied by a QR code to access “Jungle Drone,” a soundscape created

by Max Boyd, Saragoussi’s bandmate in Baby Tony and the Teenies. f

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DECEMBER 18, 2019 | FLAGPOLE.COM

11

food & drink

grub notes

Middle East Eats PLUS, A TRIP TO POPEYES FOR THE SANDWICH

By Hillary Brown food@flagpole.com RICE, RICE, BABY: Culinarily, Athens is still

WHITLEY CARPENTER

some of its specialties: an excellent, meltgenerally moving in the right direction, ingly tender slow-cooked lamb shank with although it can be hard to see it when rice flavored with fava beans and copious beloved places like Ike & Jane close. Rent amounts of dill; ghormeh sabzi, an herbkeeps going up, chains can afford it more based stew made with beans, beef and easily, and yes, UGA students don’t always fenugreek, served over rice; and “surprise of value the unfamiliar over what they’re the week,” a special that changes regularly used to in the North Atlanta suburbs. All but could be a nice piece of salmon, the of this is true. What’s also true is that our citywide palate keeps expanding, albeit slowly and often drowned out by the umpteenth chicken franchise.

Evidence of this can be found in the new International Grill and Bar (1155 Mitchell Bridge Road, 706-850-1509), which I initially mistook for a semi-generic Mediterranean restaurant but which turns out to be Persian and is therefore a trailblazer for the Classic City. Are there better Persian restaurants in the suburbs of Atlanta? There are better restaurants of almost every kind there, but they’re also an hour away.

Housed in the building on Mitchell Bridge Road that was built as the second location of Harry Bissett’s and since then has hosted a slew of restaurants, International Grill and Bar does its best to fill the space. There is International Grill and Bar still a full bar downstairs, as well as some seating options down there. Climb the stairs, and you’ll encounter skin crusted over with herbs and spices, or a bunch more booths, big letters that spell fesenjoon—a chicken stew with pomegran“VIP” and an entire room full of toys to ate paste and ground walnuts—or someoccupy your children. (There are also tables thing else. As customers have responded in that room, should you not want them out positively, the owners appear likely to keep of your sight.) expanding the more adventurous offerings.

The weekends are the best time to go, “Adventurous” is a silly word to use, as it’s only then that the restaurant serves because Iranian cuisine is nothing if not

approachable, and much of it is vegetarian and/or gluten-free. Rice is the main starch, and although International Grill and Bar doesn’t do the amazing dish known as tahdig that consists of the crisp, browned rice stuck to the bottom of the cooking pot, thoroughly infused with fat, it does serve its basmati with tomato, onion and saffron, all of which you should mash together. Stuff in the kabob section of grilled, skewered meats tends to be less good than one would hope, a little bit on the dry side, and rather than the koobideh kabob (seasoned ground beef) coming out victorious, as is usually the case, the kenjh kabob (prime sirloin) is the winner.

There are some Turkish dishes scattered around the menu, too, and anything that

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FLAGPOLE.COM | DECEMBER 18, 2019

includes eggplant—such as mirza ghasemi, among the appetizers, a wonderful smoked, roasted eggplant puree with tomatoes and garlic served with pita—is worth your time.

The Persian sausage, also in the appetizers—note that you can select three to make a combo platter, a worthwhile thing to do—is tasty, as well, both bright and meaty.

Miss Russian potato salad, made with peas, pickles, mayo and lemon juice? That’s here, too, as are various seasoned yogurts, a kids menu that even includes cheese pizza, a bar menu that looks like fun and a selection of desserts.

International Grill and Bar is open Monday 11 a.m.–3 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday 11 a.m.–9 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m.–10 p.m. and Sunday 12–8 p.m. Its meat is halal.

A NOT VERY HOT TAKE: Flagpole news editor Blake Aued recently asked me if I was going to write about the Popeyes chicken sandwich, and I had to admit that it hadn’t occurred to me, even though I live near the one on Prince and had seen the traffic jams, as well as many an article on the same. So, what the heck, I decided to try one.

I guess it’s fine? I’m not exactly a chicken sandwich connoisseur. If I’m going to eat fast food, which isn’t something that happens very often, unless I’m on a road trip and/or desperate, I’m probably going to opt for a burger, and I haven’t been to Chick-fil-A in I don’t know how many years. Popeyes makes decent chicken, although it’s better not on a bun than stuffed into one, where it starts to steam immediately, even if there are pickles. If you eat it fast, a lot of the crisp exterior is maintained.

The best thing about it, apart from the fact that its parent company doesn’t have a reputation for funding hateful anti-LGTBQ organizations, is the fact that it doesn’t have the faint sweetness of a Chick-fil-A sandwich, which makes you feel like you need to brush your teeth immediately. If you’re going to eat a fried chicken sandwich made by a company with thousands of locations, maybe you should eat this one.

WHAT UP?: Eden’s Cafe and the Phickles store are closing. Newk’s is open on Epps Bridge. El Azteca is open downtown. Read more at flagpole.com. f

the calendar! calendar picks MUSIC | SAT, DEC 21

EVENT | FRI, DEC 20

Unsilent Night

Little Kings · 7:30 p.m. · FREE! Composed by Phil Kline in 1992, “Unsilent Night” is a 45-minute, multitrack soundscape that puts a unique spin on the idea of holiday caroling. Over the years, the tradition of parading through the streets while playing this electronic work has become an international phenomenon, with more than 50 cities hosting performances. Everyone is invited to participate by bringing a boombox, mp3 player or phone pre-loaded with one of the piece’s four tracks, which can be downloaded in advance at cantaloupemusic.com. Once the group is assembled, everyone will push play at the same time and stroll through the streets of downtown. [Jessica Smith]

Tuesday 17 ART: Tour at Two (Georgia Museum of Art) A tour of the permanent collection led by docents. 2 p.m. FREE! www.georgiamuseum.org ART: Quick & Easy Gifts (Bogart Library) Make lotion bars and body creams for a quick and easy gift you can give to your loved ones this holiday. Adults only. Registration required. 1 p.m. FREE! www.athenslibrary.org/bogart CLASSES: Let in the Light: Welcoming the Solstice (Sangha Yoga Studio) Join Tom Camp for a yoga session dedicated to letting some light in during the darkest time of the Winter Solstice. All skill levels welcome. 7–8:15 p.m. $16. www. healingartscentre.net CLASSES: Computer Class: Google Maps (ACC Library) Jump into Street View and 360-degree pictures. Discover how to use location sharing, offline maps, indoor maps Street View and more. 10–11:30 a.m. FREE! 706-613-3650, www. athenslibrary.org

The Solstice Sisters

The Solstice Sisters

Hendershot’s Coffee Bar · 8 p.m. · $8 Twenty years ago, The Solstice Sisters released their first collection of holiday recordings, which proved able to warm the heart of even the most grinchlike townie. Though the group remained a fixture on the live scene, especially during the holiday season, its next batch of tunes came in 2008 in response to fans requesting music they could spin during non-holiday months. (The record’s title?

The Rest of the Year.) The group’s once-adecade release schedule continued with Maybe by Christmas, released earlier this month. The Sisters and guests will play tunes from the LP at a solstice show featuring plenty of Classic City cheer. [Gabe Vodicka]

EVENTS: A Count Zapula Christmas (Flicker Theatre & Bar) Count Zapula hosts a special event for the holidays. 6 p.m. www.flickertheatreandbar.com FILM: Bad Movie Night (Ciné) An all-girl boarding school is invaded by a band of lascivious boys and a maniacal killer dressed up as Santa Claus in the holiday slasher movie To All A Good Night. 8:30 p.m. FREE! www.facebook.com/ badmovienight GAMES: Full Contact Trivia (Blind Pig Tavern, 2301 College Station Road) Every Tuesday. 8:30 p.m.

FREE! www.facebook.com/blindpigtavern GAMES: Happy Hour Trivia (The Rook and Pawn) Hosted by James Majure. 6 p.m. FREE! www. therookandpawn.com GAMES: Locos Trivia (Locos Grill & Pub) Westside and Eastside locations of Locos Grill and Pub feature trivia night every Tuesday. 8 p.m.

FREE! www.locosgrill.com GAMES: Trivia (Hi-Lo Lounge) General trivia hosted by Jacob and Wes. 8:30 p.m. FREE! 706-850-8561

GAMES: Trivia (Starland Pizzeria and Pub) Test your trivia knowledge. 8 p.m. FREE! 706-613-8773 GAMES: Trivia (The Office Sports Bar and Grill) Play to win. Every Tuesday.

8 p.m. FREE! 706-521-5898 KIDSTUFF: Family Book Club (Madison County Library, Danielsville) Families are invited to discuss Top Elf by Caleb Zane Huett with activities, snacks and crafts.

Copies are available for checkout at the front desk. 4 p.m. FREE! www. athenslibrary.org/madison KIDSTUFF: Infant Storytime (Oconee County Library) Stories, songs, nursery rhymes, bouncing and cuddling. 0-24 months. 10:30 a.m. FREE! www.athenslibrary.org/ oconee KIDSTUFF: D&D Club (ACC Library) Dungeons and Dragons for all experience levels. 4 p.m. FREE! www. athenslibrary.org/athens KIDSTUFF: Santa’s Workshop (East Athens Community Center, Gymnasium) Enjoy some family fun for the holiday season. Activities include making holiday decorations, a bike raffle and photos with Santa.

MUSIC | SAT, DEC 21

Winter Solstice Show

PERFORMANCE | DEC 21–22

Go Bar · 9 p.m. · $5 For those who want to celebrate the solstice a bit differently, DJ Other Voices, Other Rooms will host his third annual Winter Solstice Show Saturday, Dec. 21 at Go Bar. This night of very special music will hinge on the “beautiful avantgarde” and feature performances by local synth duo Group Grope, drone specialist Goddess Complex, techno artist Wet Garden and electroacoustic composer Grant Evans. In honor of Go Bar’s upcoming transformation (more on that next week), DJ Other Voices, Other Rooms will spin a sonic “love letter” to the venue featuring techno, pop and other sounds from the 1980s. [Gordon Lamb and Gabe Vodicka] Registration required. 5:30 p.m.

FREE! www.athensclarkecounty.com KIDSTUFF: Teen D&D Club (ACC Library) A Dungeons and Dragons adventure in the library. Beginners welcome. Grades 6–12. 4–6:30 p.m.

FREE! www.athenslibrary.org KIDSTUFF: Visit with Santa (Oconee County Library) Meet Santa and take a picture together. 4–5:30 p.m. FREE! athenslibrary.org/oconee MEETINGS: Athens Citizens Climate Lobby End-of-theYear Potluck Celebration (Contact for Address) After a brief meeting, celebrate the CCL’s 2019 accomplishments with a potluck dinner, refreshments and camaraderie. 6 p.m. FREE! 404-538-9659, gail.d.gill@gmail.com PERFORMANCE: Georgia Children’s Chorus (UGA Performing Arts Center) The chorus is made up of singers ages 8–18 from across Northeast Georgia.

Their holiday concert, “A Storybook Christmas: Peace on Earth,” celebrates their 22nd anniversary. 7 p.m. $12. www.georgiachildrenschorus. org/performance

The Nutcracker

Classic Center · 4 p.m. (Sat), 2 p.m. (Sun) · $16–40 From Disney’s Fantasia in 1940 to last year’s live action The Nutcracker and the Four Realms, The Nutcracker is a treasured holiday fairy tale that has permeated pop culture for over a century. From Ukraine, the National Ballet Theatre of Odessa presents the perennial favorite using the original choreography popularized by Moscow’s Bolshoi Ballet. Set to Tchaikovsky’s famous compositions, the acts interpret “March of the Toy Soldiers,” “Waltz of the Flowers” and “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” to tell the story of a young girl’s adventure alongside an animated nutcracker in battle against an army of mice and into the Land of Sweets.

[JS]

Wednesday 18 COMEDY: Educated Mess (Hendershot’s Coffee Bar) See standups from Athens and Atlanta. 9 p.m.

FREE! www.hendershotscoffee.com FILM: Invasion U.S.A. (Flicker Theatre & Bar) Enjoy a screening of this 1985 flick starring Chuck Norris. 7 p.m. www.flickertheaterandbar.com GAMES: Trivia (Willy’s Mexicana Grill) Every Wednesday. 6 p.m.

FREE! www.facebook.com/willysmexicanaathens GAMES: Cornhole Tournament (Saucehouse Barbeque) Gather a team and compete. 8 p.m. www. saucehouse.com GAMES: Dirty South Trivia (Mellow Mushroom) Dirty South Trivia offers house cash prizes. 8 p.m. FREE! 706-613-0892 GAMES: Trivia (Craft Public House) General trivia. Industry night. Cash house prizes. 6:30 p.m. FREE! www. craftathens.com GAMES: Trivia (Blind Pig Tavern, 2440 W. Broad St.) Compete for

prizes. 8 p.m. FREE! www.fullcontacttrivia.wordpress.com GAMES: Nerd Trivia (Grindhouse Killer Burgers) Every Wednesday.

Prizes and house cash. 8 p.m. FREE! www.grindhouseburgers.com KIDSTUFF: Storytime (Oconee County Library) Stories, songs, movement, crafts and fun for preschool-aged children. 10 a.m. & 11 a.m. FREE! 706-769-3950, www. athenslibrary.org/oconee KIDSTUFF: Teen Council (ACC Library) Teens discuss plans for the ACC Library’s teen department’s collections and programs. Ages 11–18.

4–5 p.m. FREE! 706-613-3650 KIDSTUFF: Pillows & PJ’s (Oconee County Library) Watch holiday movies, drink hot chocolate and munch on some festive cookies while you wear your favorite pair of pajamas.

Grades 6-12. 6–8 p.m. FREE! www. athenslibrary.org/oconee KIDSTUFF: Step into Music (ACC Library) An afterschool music class with Mr. Evan. For children ages 5–7 and their caregiver. 4 p.m. FREE! www.athenslibrary.org/athens k continued on next page

DECEMBER 18, 2019 | FLAGPOLE.COM

13

THE CALENDAR!

LIVE MUSIC

NIGHTLY

flagpole’s ... just listen

office will be closed from Dec. 23rd–27th and Jan 1st

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19

TH

PLAY ON SIX (JAZZ) FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20TH

DARNELL BOYS

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21ST

SOLSTICE SISTERS

KIDSTUFF: Preschool Storytime (ACC Library) Attendees will share books, songs, puppets and rhymes. Ages 1.5–5. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 9:30 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.

FREE! www.athenslibrary.org/athens KIDSTUFF: Art Cart (After Class) (Georgia Museum of Art) Enjoy “choose your own adventure”-style gallery activities, art projects and games that explore a different gallery each month. This month, drop in and explore the “Material Georgia 1733– 1900: Two Decades of Scholarship” exhibition. 3–4:30 p.m. FREE! www. georgiamuseum.org KIDSTUFF: GingerFest (Bogart Library) Celebrate winter with sweet snacks and sugary crafts. Ages 3–8.

10:30 a.m.–12 p.m. FREE! www. athenslibrary.org/bogart KIDSTUFF: Bedtime Stories (ACC Library) Children are invited for bedtime stories every Wednesday. 7 p.m. FREE! athenslibrary.org/athens

Thursday 19 Hendershot’s wishes all of athens the happiest of holidays.

Love each other, do some good ATHENS’ INTIMATE LIVE MUSIC VENUE

hendershotsathens.com

Enjoy our

Slackpole 2 week issue covering events from Dec. 25th–Jan. 7th

237 prince ave. • 706.353.3050

JANUARY 20 • 7:30 P.M. THE CLASSIC CENTER THEATRE

CALL, CLICK, OR STOP BY THE BOX OFFICE 706.357.4444 • CLASSICCENTER.COM • 300 N THOMAS STREET • DOWNTOWN ATHENS

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

PARKER FIBERNET, LLC

The Bank that’s Built to Last ATHENS

14

FLAGPOLE.COM | DECEMBER 18, 2019

ART: Holiday Third Thursday (Lyndon House Arts Center) Enjoy gingersnaps and cider at a special evening gathering to view Deck the Walls. 6-9 p.m. FREE! 3thurs.org ART: Third Thursday Art Series (Athens, GA) Eight galleries stay open late the third Thursday of every month. Participating galleries include the Georgia Museum of Art, Lamar Dodd School of Art, Creature Comforts Brewing Co., ATHICA, Lyndon House Arts Center, Ciné, the GlassCube & Gallery @ Hotel Indigo and The Classic Center. 6-9 p.m.

FREE! www.3thurs.org CLASSES: Yoga in the Galleries (Georgia Museum of Art) Five Points Yoga instructors lead a class surrounded by works of art. 6 p.m.

FREE! www.georgiamuseum.org CLASSES: Winter Solstice Qigong (Thrive) Celebrate the approach of winter with a special Qigong session. 6:30–8 p.m. $18. www. thrivespace.net CLASSES: De-Stressing During the Holidays: Yoga (ACC Library) Join Lydia for a quick yoga session.

12 p.m. FREE! www.athenslibrary. org/athens COMEDY: So Happy For Christmas (Moonlight Theater) A holiday comedy featuring wild characters, live music and award-winning comedians. Tickets sales support the Athens Area Homeless Shelter. Dec. 19–20, 27–28, 8 p.m. & Dec. 29, 5 p.m. $8–14. www. moonlighttheatercompany.com COMEDY: Let’s Go Comedy Show: Season Finale (Go Bar) See the final show of 2019. Five comedians perform 20-minute sets. Hosted by Alia Ghosheh. 8 p.m. $5. www.facebook.com/gawdamthatsfunny EVENTS: KnitLits (Bogart Library) Knitters of all levels are invited to have fun, share ideas and knit.

Beginning knitters are encouraged to attend. Ages 16 & up. 6–8 p.m.

FREE! www.athenslibrary.org/bogart EVENTS: Ladies Night in the Winery (Boutier Winery & Inn) Ladies are invited out for wine, food and line dancing. 6:30-10 p.m. $15. www.boutierwinery.com EVENTS: Fix Your Own Bike (BikeAthens) Get help fixing your bike from experts so you’re safe to ride. 6–8:30 p.m. $10 (suggested). www.bikeathens.org FILM: Truck Yaro 10: Run, Truck Rascal, Run! (Flicker Theatre & Bar) Japanese truckers fight in brawls, fall in love, race on dangerous roads and more in this 1979

Wednesday, Dec. 18 continued from p. 13

Christmas film. 7–9 p.m. FREE! www.flickertheatreandbar.com GAMES: Music Trivia (Saucehouse Barbeque) Meet at the bar for a round of trivia. 8 p.m. FREE! www. facebook.com/saucehousebbq GAMES: Trivia Night (Terrapin Beer Co.) Hosted by Shelton Sellers from Classic City Trivia every Thursday.

5:30–7:30 p.m. terrapinbeer.com KIDSTUFF: The Lights of Hanukkah (ACC Library) Celebrate the season of lights with an afternoon of stories, crafts and food.

For children ages 3-11 and their caregiver. 3:30 p.m. FREE! www. athenslibrary.org/athens KIDSTUFF: Crazy 8s Math Club (Madison County Library, Danielsville) Explore math games at this interactive program for students in grades K–2. 4 p.m. FREE! www. athenslibrary.org/madison KIDSTUFF: UGA EcoReach (ACC Library) Join UGA’s Ecology Club for this month’s fun topic: earth and nature. For grades 6–12 only. 4–5 p.m. FREE! athenslibrary.org/athens KIDSTUFF: Harry Potter Potion Ornaments (Bogart Library) Potterheads are invited to make four different potions from the world of Harry Potter that will make great a keepsake, gift or decoration for the holiday season. Grades 6–12.

Registration required. 6 p.m. FREE! www.athenslibrary.org/bogart KIDSTUFF: Teen Thursdays (Madison County Library, Danielsville) Teens can drop in each week for a different activity.

This month’s activities include book themed snacks, a superhero movie and button making. No registration necessary. Ages 13–18. 5–7 p.m.

FREE! athenslibrary.org/madison KIDSTUFF: Grinchmas Holiday Party (Lay Park) Celebrate the holidays with games, crafts, goodies and special visits from Santa and the Grinch. For ages 2–12. 6–7:30 p.m.

FREE! www.athensclarkecounty.com KIDSTUFF: Pajama Story Time (Madison County Library, Danielsville) Come out for bedtime stories, songs and a light snack in the children’s area. Ages 7 & under.

7 p.m. FREE! www.athenslibrary.org/ madison KIDSTUFF: Lego Club (Madison County Library, Danielsville) Create Lego art and enjoy Lego-based games. Blocks provided. For ages 8 and up. 4:30 p.m. FREE! www. athenslibrary.org/madison KIDSTUFF: Read to Rover (Bogart Library) Read aloud to a canine friend. RSVP. 4–5 p.m. FREE! 770725-9443, athenslibrary.org/bogart LECTURES & LIT: For the Philo of Philosophy Book Discussion Group (ACC Library) Read philosophy books from ancient Greece to modern times. 6–8 p.m. FREE! www. athenslibrary.org/athens MEETINGS: Caregiver Crafting Support Group (ACC Library) Caregivers are invited to bring crafting supplies and express the joys and struggles of caring for a loved one while practicing self-care creatively. 6–7 p.m. FREE! www. athenslibrary.org/athens

Friday 20 COMEDY: So Happy For Christmas (Moonlight Theater) See Thursday listing for full description.

Dec. 19–20, 27–28, 8 p.m. & Dec. 29, 5 p.m. $8–14. www.moonlighttheatercompany.com EVENTS: Prance Down Prince with Prints of Princes (Avid Bookshop, Prince Ave.) Bring a

prince in some form, whether it’s a photo, drawing, copy of a book or cassette. Take selfies in front of your favorite locally-owned businesses on Prince Avenue with your prince using the hashtag #princeave. 12–8 p.m. FREE! www.avidbookshop.com EVENTS: Unsilent Night (Little Kings Shuffle Club) A family-friendly parade through downtown Athens to the tune of Phil Kline’s seasonal masterpiece. Bring a device with the piece’s four tracks downloaded and push play before strolling through town. See Calendar Pick on p. 13.

7:30 p.m. FREE! unsilentnight.com EVENTS: Winter Festival at Yargo (Fort Yargo State Park, Winder) Enjoy lights throughout the campground and cabins on a festive wagon ride, listen to holiday stories about the Winter Solstice, watch a winter movie, roast marshmallows and more. Those who camp or stay at the cabins for the weekend are invited to decorate their site and compete for an annual park pass.

There will be a gingerbread house contest both nights, with the most popular house winning a free night of camping. Dec. 20–21, 5–9 p.m. $5 entry fee, $5 parking pass). www. gastateparks.org/fortyargo FILM: Movies by Moonlight (Sandy Creek Park) ACC Leisure Services presents a viewing of two holiday favorites: Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer (6 p.m.) and A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa (7 p.m.).

An intermission between the films will feature a sing-along. Hot chocolate and s’mores will be available.

5:30 p.m. (gates open) FREE! www. accgov.com/leisure FILM: Movies on Tap (Southern Brewing Company) Join the brewery for a movie every Friday night. 9 p.m. FREE! www.facebook.com/ thesouthernbrewingcompany KIDSTUFF: Gymnastic’s Santa’s Helper Mini-Camp (Bishop Park) Bring the kids out for a night of gymnastics, crafts, holiday-themed games and more. Registration required. 4–8 p.m. $10 (ACC residents), $15 (non-ACC residents). www.athensclarkecounty.com KIDSTUFF: Interactive Movie for Tweens (Bogart Library) Tweens ages 9–13 are invited to join Ms. Molly for an interactive screening of Elf. 4–6 p.m. FREE! www.athenslibrary.org/bogart KIDSTUFF: Kids Can Bake (Madison County Library, Danielsville) Join Ms. Carley for a sweet storytime and learn how to make a new treat. Ages 5–10 and their caregivers. 2 p.m. FREE! www. athenslibrary.org/madison KIDSTUFF: Make and Take Holiday Cards (Madison County Library, Danielsville) Drop in anytime and make holiday cards for family and friends. All materials provided. 10 a.m.–6 p.m. FREE! www. athenslibrary.org/madison KIDSTUFF: Multicultural Holiday Celebration (ACC Library) Join Teen Services for games, crafts and cookie-decorating fun while you learn how Christmas and other winter holidays are celebrated around the world. For grades 6–12. 4–5:30 p.m. FREE! athenslibrary.org/athens LECTURES & LIT: Book Signing (Little Kings Shuffle Club) Author and former Athenian Doug Hollingsworth signs copies of his new novel, Frankenstein’s Paradox.

6 p.m. FREE! www.facebook.com/ lkshuffleclub THEATER: The ReGifters (On Stage Walton) On Stage Walton presents a Christmas comedy about the misadventures of a couple who “regift” a lackluster Christmas present only to find out it’s worth a fortune. In pursuit to reclaim the gift from others

who have passed it along, everyone learns about friendship, true wealth and the Christmas spirit. Dec. 20–21, 8 p.m. & Dec. 22, 2 p.m. $20. www.onstagewalton.org

Saturday 21 ART: Bendzunas Glass Open House (Bendzunas Glass, Comer) The family-run glassblowing studio offers handmade glass items. Live demos until 3 p.m. Saturdays & Sundays through Dec. 22, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. FREE! bendzunasglass.com CLASSES: A Champagne Primer (J’s Bottle Shop) Discover the different styles of Champagne, iconic producers, and learn how to buy, store and serve great Champagne. 6:30–8 p.m. $55. wine.jsbottleshop@gmail. com EVENTS: Athens Farmers Market (Bishop Park) The market hosts around 45 vendors, children’s activities and cooking demos. All produce is grown locally, sustainably and by those who are selling it. Live music

by Random Acts. This is the last market of the season. 8 a.m.-12 p.m.

FREE! www.athensfarmersmarket.net EVENTS: Christmas on Milledge Ave. (Movement Mortgage, 525 South Milledge Ave.) Join the Movement Mortgage team and Santa for cookies, cocoa and crafts. 1–4 p.m. FREE! www.movement.com EVENTS: Contra Dance (Memorial Park, Administration Building) A monthly dance presented by Athens Folk Music & Dance Society with music by Mike Robinson and Margie McDonald and live calling. No partner or experience necessary.

6:15 p.m. (lesson), 6:30–9:30 p.m. (dance). $8 (adults), $4 (ages 11–17), FREE! (ages 11 & under). www.athensfolk.org KIDSTUFF: Story Time with Santa Claus (Avid Bookshop, Prince Ave.) Join Santa Claus and Miss Rachel for a special story time including carols and a chance to snap a photo with Santa. 11 a.m. FREE! www. avidbookshop.com KIDSTUFF: Storytime & Activities (Barnes & Noble) Enjoy a storytime dedicated to Construction Site on Christmas Night, followed by activities. 11 a.m. FREE! www.barnesandnoble.com LECTURES & LIT: Meet the Author (Walls of Books, 1011 Stonebridge Pkwy., Watkinsville) Author Walt Gragg will sign copies and read excerpts from his follow-up novel The Chosen One. 2–4 p.m. FREE! www.wallsofbookswatkinsville.net PERFORMANCE: The Nutcracker (The Classic Center) The Nutcracker is a treasure holiday fairy tale that follows a young girl’s journey through a fantasy world of fairies, princes, toy soldiers and an army of mice. Set to Tchaikovsky’s beloved score, you’ll hear favorites like “Waltz of the Flowers,” “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy,” “Waltz of the Snowflakes” and many more. See Calendar Pick on p. 13. Dec. 21, 4 p.m. & Dec. 22, 2 p.m. www.classiccenter.com THEATER: The ReGifters (On Stage Walton) See Friday listing for full description. Dec. 20–21, 8 p.m. & Dec. 22, 2 p.m. $20. www.onstagewalton.org THEATER: A Bing Crosby Christmas (Morton Theatre) Presented by Artists Lounge Live, Broadway baritone Jared Bradshaw celebrates Bing Crosby with the infectious harmonies of the Andrews Sisters. Traditional favorites include “Jingle Bells,” “Chattanooga ChooChoo,” “Mele Kalikimaka” and “White Christmas.” 6 p.m. (doors), 7 p.m. (show) $40. mortontheatre.com

Sunday 22 ART: Bendzunas Glass Open House (Bendzunas Glass) See Saturday listing for full description.

Saturdays & Sundays through Dec. 22, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. FREE! www. bendzunasglass.com ART: Family Playtime Yoga (Rubber Soul Yoga) Children, parents, extended family and caretakers are invited to share a playful yoga class focused on movement, games and imagination. 10–11 a.m. $10. www.rubbersoulyoga.com EVENTS: Abnormal Bazaar (Indie South, 470 Hawthorne Ave.) Pick up handmade and vintage goodies from local vendors. Third Sunday of every month. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. www. theindiesouth.com GAMES: Chess Club (Madison County Library, Danielsville) Ages 8 and up are invited to play. All experience levels welcome. 3 p.m. FREE! www.athenslibrary.org/madison GAMES: Rockin’ Roll Bingo (Starland Pizzeria and Pub) Play to win. 9 p.m. FREE! 706-613-8773 GAMES: Trivia (Southern Brewing Company) General trivia hosted by Solo Entertainment. House prizes and discounted tabs. 5–7 p.m.

FREE! www.sobrewco.com PERFORMANCE: The Nutcracker (The Classic Center) See Saturday listing for full description. Dec. 21, 4 p.m. & Dec. 22, 2 p.m. www.classiccenter.com THEATER: The ReGifters (On Stage Walton) See Friday listing for full description. Dec. 20–21, 8 p.m. & Dec. 22, 2 p.m. $20. www.onstagewalton.org

Monday 23 COMEDY: Gorgeous George’s Improv League (The Globe) Local improvisers invent scenes on the spot and compete for the coveted screaming chicken. Every Monday upstairs. 9 p.m. FREE! www.krakinjokes.com FILM: Monday Night Movie (Oconee County Library) Adults are invited to watch a 1983 American holiday classic starring Peter Billingsley. 7 p.m. FREE! www.athenslibrary.org/oconee GAMES: Geeks Who Drink Trivia (Highwire Lounge) Test your general knowledge for prizes. 8–10 p.m.

FREE! www.highwirelounge.com GAMES: Trivia (Craft Public House) Terrapin-sponsored trivia hosted by Shelton Sellers of Classic City Trivia.

Win house cash and Terrapin prizes.

7 p.m. FREE! www.craftathens.com KIDSTUFF: Family Craft (Bogart Library) Drop in for hot cocoa, cookies and crafts for the little ones. Ages 6 and up. 2–4 p.m. FREE! www. athenslibrary.org/bogart KIDSTUFF: Open Chess Play for Kids and Teens (ACC Library) Teen chess players of all skill levels can play matches and learn from members of the local Chess and Community Players, who will be on hand to assist players and help build skill levels. For ages 7–18.

Registration required. 4–5:30 p.m.

FREE! 706-613-3650

Go Bar 10 p.m. www.facebook.com/go.bar.35 JAMES AURELIO New roots-rock project led by Jim Wilson (Los Cantares, TaxiCab Verses).

Nowhere Bar 9 p.m. $3. www.facebook.com/ NowhereBarAthens THUNDER JACKSON Danceinducing pop-rock project.

Wednesday 18 Boar’s Head Lounge 11 p.m. FREE! 706-369-3040 OPEN MIC A weekly open-mic jam hosted by Louis Phillip Pelot.

All musicians welcome. Backline provided.

Caledonia Lounge 8 p.m. $15 (21+), $17 (18-20). www. caledonialounge.com PILE Noisy, chaotic experimental rock group from Boston.

TREADLES Airy, emotive heavy rock group from New Orleans.

MOTHERFUCKER Hard-hitting local math-rock trio.

Flicker Theatre & Bar 9 p.m. $5. www.flickertheatreandbar. com CHOSEN EVIL Local dark industrial noise project. Album release show!

LUCAS BRODE Avant-free-jazz guitarist from New York City.

BAO Ecstatic kalimba/percussion duo of Ariel Ackerly and Bridget Dooley.

SEA OF NOISE Solo experimental tape-loop project from Andy Morales.

The Globe 8 p.m. FREE! 706-353-4721 THE HOT HOTTY-HOTS Mary Sigalas, Dan Horowitz, Steve Key and surprise guests play swingin’ tunes from the ’10s, ’20s and ’30s.

Go Bar 9 p.m. $5. www.facebook.com/ go.bar.35 VISION VIDEO Local goth-pop group featuring members of Shehehe and Booty Boyz.

ALL BLACK New goth band featuring members of Atlanta group Night Moves Gold.

DJS WARDADDY & TWIN POWERS Spinning new wave, goth, Britpop and indie.

Porterhouse Grill 6:30 p.m. FREE! 706-369-0990 JAZZ NIGHT The longest standing weekly music gig in Athens! Enjoy an evening of original music, improv and standards.

The World Famous 9 p.m. www.facebook.com/theworldfamousathens A VERY ORANGE CHRISTMAS A holiday-themed show featuring members of The Orange Constant.

Thursday 19

Tuesday 17

Caledonia Lounge 7 p.m. $5 (21+), $7 (18–20). www. caledonialounge.com BANANDITS New local teenage rock band.

AD BLANCO New local rock band that sprouted out of Full Moon School of Music.

CLARKE CENTRAL Power-pop trio from Athens.

MISS DESTROYER No info available.

The Foundry 8 p.m. FREE! thefoundryathens.com DEAKINS & JONES Avery Deakins and Kip Jones play holiday classics, originals and more.

Flicker Theatre & Bar 8:30 p.m. $10. www.flickertheatreandbar.com THE PINK STONES Rootsy local country-rock group led by song-

LIVE MUSIC

writer Hunter Pinkston. 7-inch release party!

DYLAN EARL Americana singer-songwriter from Little Rock, AR. ATHENS COWBOY CHOIR All-star vocal ensemble featuring members of various local bands singing songs from the old frontier.

JOHNSON & BESKIN GOT A STEW GOIN’ New duo featuring Thomas Johnson (Futurebirds) and Drew Beskin.

The Foundry 7 p.m. $7 (adv.), $10 (door). www. thefoundryathens.com ATHENS A-TRAIN BAND Instrumental group performing traditional jazz standards, swing, latin, ballads, blues and boogie. This is a “Jingle Bell Jazz” show with a festive twist.

The Globe 5 p.m. www.facebook.com/globe. athens THE FUSILIERS New area project featuring well-known musicians playing original and traditional Celtic greengrass music.

Go Bar 10 p.m. FREE! 706-546-5609 KARAOKE Hosted by karaoke fanatic Dr. Fred and featuring a large assortment of pop, rock, indie and more. Every Thursday.

Hendershot’s Coffee Bar 8 p.m. $5. www.hendershotscoffee.com JAZZ JAM Some of our town’s most talented musicians get together at this popular happening. Bring your guitar, or grab a table and give an ear.

Manhattan Café 8:30 p.m. 706-369-9767 NACKASHI GROUP Melodic, textured local three-piece with drums, keyboards and sax.

Nowhere Bar 8 p.m. $3. www.facebook.com/ NowhereBarAthens THE ROYAL VELVET Three-piece local rock band led by songwriter Justin Brogdon.

That Bar Athens 10 p.m. FREE! www.thatbarathens.com KELLY HOYLE Norma Rae guitarist and singer-songwriter performs originals and covers.

VFW 6 p.m. $5–10. 706-543-5940 GROWN FOLKS DANCE PARTY WXAG’s DJ Segar plays jazz and R&B.

Friday 20 Caledonia Lounge 9 p.m. $7 (21+), $9 (18–20). www. caledonialounge.com UNCLE GOO Northeast Georgia musician playing outlaw country-inspired originals. See story on p. 10.

GEORGIA DISH BOYS Raucous and rootsy local rock group fronted by songwriter Seth Martin.

JIM WILLINGHAM Local songwriter known for fronting the bands Old Smokey and Harry Carey.

The Foundry 8 p.m. www.thefoundryathens.com HOLLY BELLE AND THE BELLETONES Local singer-songwriter performs with her band.

Georgia Theatre 7:30 p.m. $25. www.georgiatheatre. com JUMP, LITTLE CHILDREN Poppy, long-running alt-rock band from Charleston, SC. HULA HI-FI Hawaiian-influenced act featuring strings and electronics.

Hendershot’s Coffee Bar 8 p.m. $8. www.hendershotscoffee.com THE DARNELL BOYS The Darnell brothers play country blues originals backed by upright bass, singing saw and junkyard percussion.

HIBBS FAMILY BAND Folk/bluegrass quartet of family members led

by Rob and Garrett Hibbs.

Nowhere Bar 9 p.m. $5. www.facebook.com/ NowhereBarAthens OTIS Four-piece electric blues revival band from southern Kentucky. This is a Led Zeppelin tribute set.

Old Fire Hall #2 7 p.m. $15. www.historicathens.com DAVE MARR & FRIENDS Local singer-songwriter and bandleader with a deep, resonant country twang.

T. HARDY MORRIS Local singer-songwriter and guitarist plays twangy, reflective folk-rock.

That Bar Athens 6 p.m. FREE! www.thatbarathens.com KARAOKE Pick your favorite tune to sing to all your friends.

VFW 8 p.m. $10. 706-543-5940 RAMBLIN’ COUNTRY BAND Georgia-based traditional country band.

Winterville Auditorium 7 p.m. $10. www.facebook.com/ WintervilleAuditorium THE GOOD GRIEF TRIO Greg Hankins, Luca Lombardi and Seth Hendershot perform the music of A Charlie Brown Christmas and more.

Saturday 21 Bishop Park Athens Farmers Market. 8 a.m. FREE! www.athensfarmersmarket.net RANDOM ACTS Local acoustic band playing rock, pop, country and more.

Flicker Theatre & Bar 9 p.m. www.flickertheatreandbar.com KUDZU Local instrumental guitar act led by songwriter Hampton Campbell.

40 Watt Club 8 p.m. $1. www.40watt.com THE QUICK HOOKS Local all-star rock band led by scene fixture David Barbe (Mercyland, Sugar).

SAILORS & SHIPS Folk-pop project from local songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jeremy Wheatley.

The Foundry 7:30 p.m. $5 (adv.), $7 (door). www. thefoundryathens.com BASKETBALL TEAM Local supergroup plays the hits from 2016’s “A Very Christmas” and other favorite Christmas songs, from the Kinks to Elvis to Mariah Carey.

Go Bar 9 p.m. $5. www.facebook.com/ go.bar.35 GROUP GROPE Analog synth beats influenced by classic Chicago house

and Detroit techno. See Calendar Pick on p. 13.

WET GARDEN Synthesizer explorations with erotic incantations.

GRANT EVANS Local artist using tape loops and electronics to create expansive, rumbling soundscapes.

GODDESS COMPLEX Athens-based avant-garde project led by composer Cloud Powers.

DJ OTHER VOICES, OTHER ROOMS Spinning a love letter to Go Bar full of ’80s techno-pop and Cocteau Twins.

Hendershot’s Coffee Bar 8 p.m. $8. www.hendershotscoffee.com THE SOLSTICE SISTERS Old-time country ballads, traditional folk and ’40s-style swing with sweet, warm harmonies. See Calendar Pick on p. 13.

Highwire Lounge 11 p.m. $2 (headphone). www.highwirelounge.com SILENT DISCO Dance the night away to two different channels of music.

Nowhere Bar 10 p.m. www.facebook.com/ NowhereBarAthens RICK WILLIAMS’ BLUES OLYMPICS Blues supergroup led by the multi-talented Rick Williams.

Sunday 22 The World Famous 9 p.m. www.facebook.com/theworldfamousathens DAISY Long-running local psychedelic indie-rock band.

RICKOLUS DIY musician from Jacksonville Beach, FL. BLAKE STEWART The leader of local band Tabloid plays a solo set.

Monday 23 Hendershot’s Coffee Bar 8 p.m. FREE! hendershotscoffee.com OPEN MIC Showcase your talent at this open mic night most Mondays.

Hosted by Larry Forte.

Nowhere Bar 10 p.m. www.facebook.com/ NowhereBarAthens MINGLEWOOD MONDAY Local artists pay tribute to the Grateful Dead.

Down the Line 12/27 CHIP MCKENZIE / LITTLE GOLD (Flicker Theatre & Bar) 12/27 HAYRIDE / DONKEY PUNCH / MONSOON (Georgia Theatre) 12/27 CHRIS HAMPTON BAND (VFW) 12/28 FLYNT FLOSSY & TURQUOISE JEEP (Caledonia Lounge) 12/28 DRIVIN’ N CRYIN’ / LAUREN MORROW (40 Watt Club) 12/28 RANDALL BRAMBLETT BAND (The Foundry) 12/28 SEVENDUST (Georgia Theatre) 12/28 HONEYCHILD (Hendershot’s Coffee Bar) 12/28 HUGHES TAYLOR BAND (Nowhere Bar) 12/29 THE LUCKY JONES (Cali ’N’ Tito’s Eastside) 12/30 THE MARCUS KING BAND (Georgia Theatre) 12/31 SOUTHERN IMPACT (Boutier Winery & Inn)

Deadline for getting listed in The Calendar is THURSDAY at 5 p.m. for the year-ending, double-issue of Dec. 25 & Jan. 1. Online listings are updated daily. Contact us at calendar@flagpole.com.

DECEMBER 18, 2019 | FLAGPOLE.COM

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bulletin board Deadline for getting listed in Bulletin Board is every THURSDAY at 5 p.m. for the print issue that comes out the following Wednesday. Online listings are updated daily. Email calendar@flagpole.com.

Art AAAC GRANTS (Athens, GA) The Athens Area Arts Council is seeking applicants for its quarterly $500 grants. All local artists, arts organizations or arts-based projects are welcome to apply. info@athensarts. org, www.athensarts.org ART CLASSES (Lyndon House Arts Center) Now registering for winter classes. Subjects include wheel thrown pottery (Thursdays, Jan. 9–Feb. 20, 6:30–8:30 p.m.), mosaic art (Tuesdays, Jan. 7–Feb. 11, 6:30–8:30 p.m.) and more. Visit website for class descriptions and dates. www.accgov.com/leisure ARTIST’S SHOPPE (OCAF, Watkinsville) Find the perfect items for all the special people on your holiday gift list. Check out beautiful handmade gifts by more than 50 artists and buy a ticket for the Reindeer Raffle. Open Tuesdays through Saturdays, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. through Dec. 21. www.ocaf.com CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS (Athens Institute for Contemporary Art: ATHICA) ATHICA presents a new literary zine called Local Honey.

Writers can submit up to three word or pdf documents of written work including poems, essays and short fiction. Artists can submit up to three 300 dpi or higher resolution jpeg/ pngs. Deadline Jan. 15. The zine will be printed in March. localhoney athens@gmail.com, athica.org

45TH ANNUAL JURIED EXHIBITION (Lyndon House Arts Center) The annual show will be juried by Larry Ossei-Mensah of the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit. Drop off entry forms and up to three works on Jan. 23–24. 706613-3623 OPEN STUDIO MEMBERSHIP (Lyndon House Arts Center) Local artists can access studio facilities through a new open studio monthly membership program. Studios include ceramics, jewelry, painting, fiber, printmaking, photography and woodshop/sculpture studios. Up to 32 hours per week. $65/month or $175/three months. 706-613-3623, www.athensclarkecounty.com/leisure

Classes ART CLASSES (KA Artist Shop) “Silk Painting with René Shoemaker,” Feb. 8–9, 1–4 p.m. $120. “Calligraphy Club: Monthly Skillshare” is held every first Thursday, 5:30–7 p.m.

FREE! www.kaartist.com BASIC WELDING FOR THE CREATIVE MAKER/ARTIST/ HOBBYIST (Contact for Location) This two-session, six-hour MIG welding class is designed for artists and hobbyists who are completely new to welding. Learn ideas and tips about how to set up equipment and push craft-making to the next level.

Dec. 18–19, 6–9 p.m. $200. 706308-4792, clay@wioamerica.com

art around town AMICI (233 E. Clayton St.) Artwork by Matthew Ward. Through January.

ANTIQUES & JEWELS ART GALLERY (290 N. Milledge Ave.) New paintings by Mary Porter, Greg Benson, Chatham Murray, Candle Brumby, Lana Mitchell and more.

ART ON THE SIDE GALLERY AND GIFTS (17 N. Main St., Watkinsville) A gallery featuring works by various artists in media including ceramics, paintings and fused glass.

ATHENS ACADEMY (1281 Spartan Lane) On view in the Harrison Center Children’s Instructional Gallery, a retrospective of Jacob Wenzka’s work from three books co-created with Bart King share original art, prints and paintings.

ATHENS-CLARKE COUNTY LIBRARY (2025 Baxter St.) “Sharing Our Visions” presents paintings, drawings, collages, photographs, fiber pieces, sculptures and other works by staff members of regional libraries. Through Jan. 26.

ATHENS LATINO CENTER FOR EDUCATION AND SERVICES (445 Huntington Rd., #120) See 20 paintings by Stanley Bermudez.

BENDZUNAS GLASS (89 W. South Ave., Comer) The family-run studio has been creating fine art glass for almost 40 years.

CINÉ (234 W. Hancock Ave.) Paintings by Chasity Williams.

CIRCLE GALLERY (UGA College of Environment and Design, 285 S. Jackson St.) “Snapshots: 50 Years at the College of Environment and Design” celebrates the school’s 50th anniversary with a timeline, wall of curiosities in the tradition of wonder rooms, and a rotating exhibit.

CITY OF WATKINSVILLE (Downtown Watkinsville) “Public Art Watkinsville: A Pop-up Sculpture Exhibit” consists of sculptures placed in prominent locations around downtown. Artists include Benjamin Lock, William Massey, Stan Mullins, Robert Clements, Harold Rittenberry and Joni Younkins-Herzog. • “Artscape Oconee: The Monuments of Artland” features a total of 20 paintings on panels installed around town. Artists include Claire Clements, Peter Loose, Andy Cherewick, Lisa Freeman, Manda McKay and others.

CLASSIC CENTER (300 N. Thomas St.) “Good Vibrations” features photographs of cruise life by Brittainy Lauback, drawings of beaches by Warren Slater that are influenced by Aboriginal mark-making, and vivid abstractions

by Hannah Betzel. • “Building Facades” is a solo exhibition by Mike Landers that features sophisticated, symmetrical and minimally composed photographs from downtown Athens in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

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BEGINNER BALLROOM BOOTCAMP (Dancefx) Get comfortable with the basics of three styles in time for the holidays. Dec. 17 (waltz), Dec. 18 (foxtrot) and Dec. 19 (swing), 6–7 p.m. $10/class or $25/full course. www.dancefx.org CLASSES (Winterville Center for Community and Culture) “Gentle Nia,” Mondays at 1 p.m.

“Oil Painting,” Mondays at 1:30 p.m. “Drawing,” Mondays at 6 p.m. “Community Coffeehouse,” Tuesdays from 9 a.m.–3 p.m.

“Coffee with a Veteran,” Tuedays at 9 a.m. “Threadwork Crafting Club,” Tuesdays at 9 a.m. “SilverSneakers Stretch,” Wednesdays at 10 a.m.

“SilverSneakers Yoga,” Wednedsays at 11 a.m. “Acrylic Painting,” Wednesdays at 1:30 p.m. “Aikido,” Wednesdays at 2 p.m. “Zumba,” Wednesdays at 6 p.m. “Belly Dance,” Wednesdays at 7 p.m. “Mah Jongg,” Thursdays at 1 p.m. www.winterville center.com COMEDY CLASS: INTRO TO IMPROV (Nimbl) This is a fun, low-stakes weekly workshop introducing the basic concepts of improv comedy. No experience necessary.

Participants learn improv fundamentals and play introductory games.

Tuesdays through Dec. 17, 7–9 p.m.

Donation based. 770-833-7969, www.krakinjokes.com/classes STUDIO WORKSHOP: DRAWING MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUES (Georgia Museum of Art) Phil Jasen leads a four-part series of stu-

“The Monsters Are Due on Broad Street: Patrick Dean” opens Saturday, Dec. 21 at the Georgia Museum of Art and will remain on view through Sunday, Mar. 29. dio-based classes exploring tools, techniques and styles of the Italian regional schools. Jan. 2, 9, 16 and 23, 6:30–8:30 p.m. $15. 706-5424883, madison.hogan@uga.edu TAI CHI (Healing Arts Centre) Tai Chi yang style, the 108. Thursdays, 7:15–8:30 p.m. healingartscentre.net UGA COMMUNITY MUSIC SCHOOL (Hugh Hodgson School of Music) Musical instruction in popular and classical styles. All ages.

Registration ends Jan. 13. Classes begin Jan. 21. ugacms.uga.edu WINTER CAMP (Canopy Studio) K–6th graders are invited to learn trapeze, participate in movement arts and crafts and explore the studio.

COMMUNITY (260 N. Jackson St.) Hannah Jones’ paintings burst with geometric patterns and shapes. Through December.

FLICKER THEATRE & BAR (263 W. Washington St.) Three-dimensional works by David Card. Through December.

GALLERY AT INDIGO (500 College Ave.) “FUN” features works by Neil Hancock, Marla Star, Jolene O’Brien, Kim Truesdale, Katherine Miele, Hannah Betzel and Brittainy Lauback.

GEORGIA MUSEUM OF ART (90 Carlton St.) “Mary Lee Bendolph: Quilted Memories” features 17 works spanning four decades by the Gee’s Bend, AL, artist and freedom-fighter. Through Dec. 29. • “Storytelling in Renaissance Maiolica” offers a selection of tin-glazed earthenware produced in the duchy of Urbino, Italy, in the 16th Century. Through Jan. 5. • In the sculpture garden, Rachel Whiteread presents five cast-stone sculptures that reinterpret her earlier resin castings of the space beneath chairs. Through Mar. 7. • “Master, Pupil, Follower: 16th- to 18th-Century Italian Works on Paper” includes approximately 30 drawings and prints. Dec. 21–Mar. 8. • “Material Georgia 1733-1900: Two Decades of Scholarship” celebrates the 20-year anniversary of the museum’s Henry D. Green Center for the Study of the Decorative Arts. Works include furniture, silver, pottery, textiles, basketry and portraits.

Through Mar. 15. • “The Monsters Are Due on Broad Street: Patrick Dean” offers a retrospective on the local artist’s work, including his illustrations for Flagpole. Dec. 21–Mar. 29. • “Drama and Devotion in Baroque Rome” celebrates Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio’s influence. Through May 31.

GLASSCUBE@INDIGO (500 College Ave.) “Supple Moments, Dark Corners” is a site-specific installation by Eli Saragoussi that is accompanied by a soundscape by Max Boyd called “Jungle Drone.” Through April.

HEIRLOOM CAFE & FRESH MARKET (815 N. Chase St.) John Ahee creates vibrantly colorful portraits. Jan. 6.

JITTERY JOE’S FIVE POINTS (1230 S. Milledge Ave.) René Shoemaker presents “Sharing the Magical Landscapes,” a collection of 16 fine art prints of silk screened and hand-dyed silks. Through January.

JUST PHO…AND MORE (1063 Baxter St.) “No Way! Nineties” features colorful digital paintings by Xavier Watson.

LOWERY GALLERY (2400 Booger Hill Rd., Danielsville) The gallery celebrates “24 Years of Art” with Giclee prints, originals, photographs and sculptures by over 24 artists including Claire Clements, Ben Rouse, Peter Loose, Kip Ramey and more.

LYNDON HOUSE ARTS CENTER (293 Hoyt St.) Collections from our Community presents a collection of unique flyswatters from Tad Gloeckler.

Through Jan. 7. • The biennial Clarke County School District Student Art

FLAGPOLE.COM | DECEMBER 18, 2019

Register online. Dec. 30–Jan. 3, 9 a.m.–12 p.m. $175. www.canopy studio.org YOGA CLASSES AT 5 POINTS (5 Points Yoga) “Happy YOU Year’s Eve” includes a Vinyasa practice focused on radical self-love. Dec. 31, 5:30–7 p.m. Classes include Slow Flow, Iyengar, Restorative, Yin, Power, Hot Yoga and beginners classes. athensfivepointsyoga.com

Help Out ATHENS LITTER RESCUE CHALLENGE (Athens City Hall) Brain Aid Fest hosts an Athens Litter

Challenge. Volunteers will break into teams and help pick up litter.

Every first Saturday of the month, 9:30 a.m.–12 p.m. Meet at City Hall. www.brainaidfest.org CASA SPRING 2020 TRAINING (YMCA) Athens Oconee Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) will host an orientation Jan. 7 at 10:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.

CASA training begins Jan. 23 and ends Feb. 27. Meetings are held Thursdays, 10 a.m.–1:30 p.m. and 5:30–9 p.m. arden@athensoconee casa.org, athensoconeecasa.org MITTEN TREE (Oconee County Library) The library is decorating a tree with donated mittens, hats and

Exhibition, “WILD,” presents artwork inspired by the new children’s garden at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia. • Leah McKellop’s “Interior Worlds” combines printmaking and silk dying techniques to explore personal history through objects and their place within domestic spaces. Through Mar. 1.

MADISON-MORGAN CULTURAL CENTER (434 S. Main St., Madison) The Atlanta Photography Group’s juried exhibition, “People, Places, Things,” presents photographs by 35 different artists. Through Jan. 18.

MAMA’S BOY (197 Oak St.) Paintings by Jim StipeMaas. Through December.

MAMA’S BOY AT THE FALLS (8851 Macon Hwy.) Collages and paintings from Lorraine Thompson’s series, “The Nest, The Angel, and The Muse.”

NORMAL BOOKS (1238A Prince Ave.) A variety of art on display, including paintings by Mary Eaton, GCH Pet Portraits, metal art by Julia Vereen, ceramics by Shannon Dominy, sculpture by Doug Makemson and handwoven rugs

by Bonnie Montgomery.

ODUM SCHOOL OF ECOLOGY (140 E. Green St.) “Creatures of the Night” features a collection of bats from the Georgia Museum of Natural History and sheds light on how vital bats are to ecosystems. Through Dec. 20.

THE PINE & THE ROOT (1235 S. Milledge Ave.) Artwork by Emmi Walker.

PINEWOODS PUBLIC LIBRARY (1265 Hwy. 29 N. #12) See paintings by Stanley Bermudez as well as a community mural.

RICHARD B. RUSSELL BUILDING SPECIAL COLLECTIONS LIBRARIES (300 S. Hull St.) “Beautiful and Brutal: Georgia Bulldogs Football, 2017” is a display of photographs, uniforms and other artifacts from the UGA Athletic Association Archives and on loan from the UGA Athletic Department. Through Feb. 28.

THE ROOK & PAWN (294 W. Washington St.) Dan Smith’s “spontaneous monsterification” paintings combine anthropomorphic objects and line drawings.

STATE BOTANICAL GARDEN OF GEORGIA (2450 S. Milledge Ave.) “Growing Through Art” is the final exhibition of the Athens Art Association’s centennial celebration. The show includes botanicals, insects, gardens, stilllife and more. Through Dec. 22.

STEEL + PLANK (675 Pulaski St., Suite 200) Kathy Kitz creates abstract watercolors. For the holidays, hand-painted ornaments by Ink + Indigo, Meredith Mejerle and Studio CRL are available.

VERONICA’S SWEET SPOT (149 Oneta St., #6C6) See work by local and regional artists, craftsmen, potters and sculptors.

VIVA ARGENTINE (247 Prince Ave.) Brad Morgan, the drummer of the DriveBy Truckers, creates abstract paintings.

THE WORLD FAMOUS (351 N. Hull St.) Permanent artists include RA Miller, Chris Hubbard, Travis Craig, Dan Smith, Greg Stone and more.

scarves for children this holiday season. Bring donations anytime. www. athenslibrary.org/oconee

Kidstuff ART CLASSES (KA Artist Shop) “Art Club for Teens” (Fridays, 6:30 p.m.) and “Art Club Junior” (Fridays, 4:30 p.m.) cover subjects like drawing surreal art, plaster cloth sculptures and more. Check website for details and to register. $15. kaartist.com TEEN CARTOON ILLUSTRATORS CLUB (Lyndon House Arts Center) Robert Brown offers lessons and drawing techniques to teens who like to draw anime and cartoons of all kinds. Meetings end with pizza. For ages 11–18. Meets most Thursdays, 5:30–7:30 p.m. $5/session. www. accgov.com/leisure TEEN SEWING AND FASHION CLUB (Lyndon House Arts Center) Teens can focus on sewing projects with the guidance of a professional.

Tuesdays, 5:30–7:30 p.m. $5 per week. 706-613-3623

Support Groups ALS SUPPORT GROUP (Oconee Veterans Park, Watkinsville) Provides awareness and education to individuals living with ALS. Meets fourth Wednesday of every month, 11 a.m.–1 p.m. November and December meetings will be held on the third Wednesday due to holidays.

706-207-5800 AL-ANON 12 STEP (Multiple Locations) Recovery for people affected by someone else’s drinking.

Meetings are held daily at various times and locations. 888-425-2666, www.ga-al-anon.org ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS (Athens, GA) If you think you have a problem with alcohol, call the AA hotline or visit the website for a schedule of meetings in Barrow, Clarke, Jackson and Oconee Counties. 706-389-4164, www. athensaa.org CHRONIC ILLNESS SUPPORT GROUP (Contact for Location) Meet others who are dealing with chronic illness such as ME/CFS, Fibromyalgia and Chronic Lyme.

Third Wednesdays, 12:30 p.m. athenschronicillness@gmail.com EMOTIONS ANONYMOUS (Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Athens) EA is a 12-step program open to anyone with a desire to become well emotionally. Meets Sundays, 4–5 p.m. 706-202-7463 FIGHT 4 CHANGE (Email for Location) Help advocate for a mental health system that serves everyone.

Meets the fourth Monday of each month. letsfight4change@gmail.com NAMI (Multiple Locations) “NAMI Connections” is a support group for adults living in recovery with mental illness. “NAMI Family Support” is for family members, friends and caregivers of individuals with mental illnesses. Both groups meet every fourth Tuesday, 6:30–8 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Athens. (No meeting Dec. 24). 770-225-0804.

NAMI Family Support Groups are also available the second Monday at 6:30 p.m. at Oconee Presbyterian Church in Watkinsville; and every Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at Ridgeview Institute in Monroe (No meetings Dec. 25 or Jan. 1). www. namihall.org NICOTINE ANONYMOUS MEETINGS (ACC Library) A 12-step recovery program of mutual support for those who want to live free of nicotine in any form. Join at any time. Tuesdays, 7 p.m. nicotineanonymous.org

RECOVERY DHARMA (Recovery Dharma, 8801 Macon Hwy., Suite 1) This peer-led support group offers a Buddhist-inspired path to recovery from any addiction. Thursdays, 7–8 p.m. FREE! Find “Refuge Recovery Athens GA” on Facebook RESTLESS LEGS SYNDROME SUPPORT GROUP (Athens, GA) Forming a support group for people who have Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS sufferers). 706-612-6934 SEX ADDICTS ANONYMOUS (Email for Location) Athens Downtown SAA offers a message of hope to anyone who suffers from a compulsive sexual behavior. athensdowntownsaa. com

On The Street ACCA LEADERSHIP PROGRAM (Athens Community Council on Aging) A 10-session leadership program aimed to engage adults 55 and older in the ACC community. Weekly sessions will cover topics ranging from health and human services, local government, education and more. Febuary through March, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. 706-549-4850 BRING ONE FOR THE CHIPPER: CHRISTMAS TREE RECYCLING (Multiple Locations) Keep AthensClarke County Beautiful (KACCB) encourages citizens to recycle their undecorated trees and wreaths.

Participants will receive a free tree seeding in return. Jan. 4, 9 a.m.–1 p.m. keepathensbeautiful.org CORNHOLE LEAGUE REGISTRATION (Southern Brewing Company) Register for this seven-week cornhole league.

The season begins Jan 9. Register

by Dec. 30. Ages 21 and up. www. cornholeatl.com GIFT CARD COLLECTION (Oconee County Library) Drop off gift cards to help the Loran Smith Center for Cancer Support at Piedmont Healthcare and The Cottage Sexual Assault Center and Children’s Advocacy Center. Through Dec. 20. www.athenslibrary.org/oconee HOLIDAY CARDS FOR HEROES (Oconee County Library) Swing by the library and make a holiday card for a soldier, veteran, police officer or whoever you see as a hero.

Supplies are located in the children’s area, and the library will mail them to the appropriate address. www. athenslibrary.org/oconee ONE-ON-ONE AT THE LIBRARY (ACC Library) Scanning One-onOne is offered Dec. 18, 2–2:45 p.m. Computer Skills One-on-One is offered Dec. 19, 9–9:45 a.m.

Genealogy One-on-One is offered Dec. 19, 2–2:45 p.m. Call or visit the website to schedule a time for library staff to help you with various projects or skills. 706-613-3650 RIPPLE EFFECT FILM PROJECT (Athens, GA) Filmmakers of all ages and levels of experience are invited to create original short films about water conservation and water stewardship. Finalists’ films will be screened at the Morton Theatre on Mar. 22. Cash prizes will be awarded. Visit website for official rules. Deadline Feb. 2. www.filmfree way.com/rippleeffectfilmproject TABLE TENNIS (East Athens Community Center) Table tennis games are held three times a week.

All skill levels welcome. tabletennis athensga@gmail.com WIDESPREAD PANIC HOLIDAY POP-UP STORE (Boom Boom Panic Room, 400 Foundry St.) Come browse shirts, hats, posters, music and other unique gifts for the holidays. Through Dec. 20, 1–6 p.m. Mon.–Fri. www.facebook.com/ widespreadpanic f

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Athens’ largest variety of fresh seafood.

Open Tuesday-Sunday • Patio Dining • Kid Friendly 247 PRINCE AVENUE • 706-850-8284

Sundays Happy Hour 4pm–9pm Mondays Industry night $2 PBR tall boy $2 Kentucky Gentleman $3 Domestics 10% off food (oysters not included)

Tuesdays Date Night 1 salad or appetizer 2 surf n turf 1 dessert 1 bottle of wine $60 + tax and tip

Monday–Friday 4pm–6pm Happy Hour 75¢ Apalachicola Oysters

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DECEMBER 18, 2019 | FLAGPOLE.COM

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cla cl assifi fie eds Buy It, Sell It, Rent It, Use It! Place an ad anytime, email class@flagpole.com

 Indicates images available at classifieds.flagpole.com

REAL ESTATE APARTMENTS FOR RENT 1BR/1BA. $525/mo. $525 deposit w/ 12-mo. lease.

Unit with hardwood flooring, carpet & fresh paint. All electric w/ water/ trash incl. Pets welcomed under 30 lbs. w/ dep. $40 Application fee. On bus line. Close to Dwntn./UGA. Quiet community. Avail.

Now. bondhillapartments@ gmail.com.

February: Responsive owner seeks long t e r m re n t e r s . Wa l k t o Homewood Hills eating, thrifting, bowling. 3 beds, 2 baths, large yard. $1500–18 month lease.

HouseInHomewood@ gmail.com.

Archipelago Antiques is celebrating our 30th anniversary in 5 Points. We are offering price reductions storewide. Open 9:30–4:30 daily. 1676 S. Lumpkin St. 706-354-4297.

ROOMS FOR RENT

FOR SALE

Therapeutic massage business for sale. Located at 8 Court Street Watkinsville, next to Oconee County Courthouse. Business is 23 years old with a very lucrative income. Must have at least 5 years experience in therapeutic massage.

Clients are super and faithful, so you’re in for a great job! I have loved my work but it’s time to travel!

Asking price is $500,000.

The hard work has already been done for any therapist. All they need to do is maintain what I have started! Sybil Manley, 706207-6186.

ANTIQUES

MISCELLANEOUS

Sell your antiques in the Flagpole Classifieds!

Better than eBay! Sell your goods locally without shipping fees. Awesome Run– ’Til–Sold rate! 12 weeks for the price of four. Email class@flagpole.com or call 706-549-0301.

Seeking great housemate!

Deck, W/D, CHAC, plenty of parking, fire pit, large backyard. $840/mo. Text name, indoor temperature preference & questions to 404-834-8197.

HOUSES FOR RENT

SUB-LEASE

197 Normal Ave. Available 1/01/2020. 3BR/2BA, dishwasher, disposal, washer/ dryer connections. $1950/ mo. No pets. Reply with email address for rental application. chching618@ gmail.com.

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.

Find rentals in the Athens area! Buy a house! Sell a house! It’s all here in the Flagpole Classifieds!

flagpole classifieds Reach Over 30,000 Readers Every Week!

Business Services Real Estate Music For Sale

Employment Vehicles Messages Personals

BASIC RATES* Individual $10 per week Real Estate $14 per week Business $16 per week (RTS) Run-‘Til-Sold** $40 per 12 weeks Online Only*** $5 per week

BUSINESSES

Flagpole ♥ classified ad customers!

Do you want old newspapers for your garden?

Paper mache? Your new puppy? They’re free at the Flagpole office! Call ahead, then come grab an armful. Please leave current issues on stands. 706549-0301.

Violin teacher wanted.

Multi-instrumentalist preferred. (Interview and audition required.) Call 770868-1977 or text 770-8561074.

MUSIC

SERVICES

EQUIPMENT

HOME AND GARDEN

Nuçi’s Space needs your old instruments & music gear! Currently in need of crash cymbals and cases.

All donations are tax-deductible. Call 706-2271515 or come by Nuçi’s Space, 396 Oconee St.

MUSICIANS WANTED

Is your pool trashed from fall leaves? Clean Pool Care LLC will bring it back to magnificence. Call or text Kevin at 706-2472226.

PART-TIME Big City Bread Café is now interviewing for line cook and prep cook positions.

Experience preferred but not mandator y. Please apply in person.

Retail Sales Associate needed in established l o c a l s t o re . 2 5 h o u r s weekly from 12-5. Must be energetic and great with people. Contact Irvin@ masadaleather.com with your resume. No phone calls please as we are busy attending to our Christmas customers.

Plumber Pro Service & Drain. Upfront Pricing. Free Estimates. $30 Flagpole Discount. Call 706-7697761. Same Day Service Available. www.plumber proservice.com.

escAPe room runner Position with fLexible hours. weekends required?

Yes. $12/hr once traiNed. email resume tO puzzle master@escapethespace. com. We don’t require experience, just the right person!

JOBS

NOTICES

MUSIC SERVICES

OPPORTUNITIES

LOST AND FOUND

Instant cash is now being paid for good vinyl records & CDs in fine condition. Wuxtry Records, at corner of Clayton & College Dwntn. 706-3699428.

Searching for the perfect employee? Let us help get the word out through Flagpole Classifieds. Call 706-549-0301 or email class@flagpole.com.

Lost and found pets can be advertised in Flagpole classifieds for free. Call 706-549-0301 or email class@flagpole.com to return them home.

INSTRUCTION Athens School of Music.

Instruction in guitar, bass, drums, piano, voice, brass, woodwinds, strings, banjo, mandolin, fiddle & more.

From beginner to expert.

Visit www.athensschoolofmusic.com, 706-543-5800.

MESSAGES

ADOPT ME!

Visit athenspets.net to view all the cats and dogs available at the shelter

Flagpole subscriptions delivered straight to the mailbox! Perfect present for your buddy who moved out of town! $40 for 6 mos. or $70 for 1 yr. Call 706549-0301.

*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 • Call our Classifieds Dept. (706) 549-0301 • Email us at class@flagpole.com

• Deadline to place ads is 11:00 a.m. every Monday for the following Wednesday issue • All ads must be prepaid

18

Maggie (52833)

At 8 years old, Maggie still has plenty of love to give! This sweet girl is house-trained, loves to snuggle and fairs well with most dogs. Stop by the shelter and meet Maggie today!

Nick (52861)

The brindle coat on this guy is eye-catching! Not only is Nick handsome, but he’s a sweetheart, too. He’s energetic, loves petting sessions and meeting new people.

So, swing by and meet this sweet boy, he might just be your new best friend!

Silas (52771)

Silas is an active pup that loves to run and play fetch! When this guy isn’t on the move, he can also be a complete sweetheart ready to curl up and relax. If a spunky and loving two-year-old fits the bill for you, come meet Silas, ASAP!

These pets and many others are available for adoption at:

FLAGPOLE.COM | DECEMBER 18, 2019

Athens-Clarke County Animal Control 125 Buddy Christian Way · 706-613-3540 Open every day except Wednesday 10am-4pm

flagpole

classified deadlines for the Dec. 25th Slackpole issue will be

Friday, Dec. 20th at 11 a.m.

SUDOKU

Edited by Margie E. Burke

Difficulty: Easy

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D E C

g Comin Up @

Jingle Bell BASKETBALL TEAM Jazz w/ Athens PRESENTS: ERMAGHERD A-Train Band IT’S CHRISTMAS!

live music, Restaurant & Bar 295 E. DOUGHERTY ST. ATHENS, GA 30601

5 2 4

D E C

D E C

706-389-5549 thefoundryathens.com

DOORS @ 6PM DINNER @ 7PM

DOORS @ 6PM SHOW @ 7PM

roaring

back

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$45 pre-sale

$55 at the door

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J A N

1 WED

Sugar Bowl Viewing

Georgia vs Baylor DOORS @ 6:00PM KICKOFF @ 8:45PM

THIS

HOLIDAY SEASON

by Margie E. Burke 9

the 20s

- Visit -

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23 25

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thefoundryathens.com

midnight champagne toast • hors d’oeuvres & desserts

HOW TO SOLVE:

2

DOORS @ 6PM SHOW @ 8PM

Annual Big Band Christmas Show!

music from emerald empire band & dj chief rocka

Each row must contain the numbers 1 to 9; each column must contain the numbers 1 to 9; and each setofof12/16/19 3 by 3 boxes must contain Week - 12/22/19 the numbers 1 to 9.

1

TickeTs on sale

new years eve show at the foundry

Copyright 2019 by The Puzzle Syndicate

The Weekly Crossword

to

Randall BRamBlett

24

Solution to Sudoku: 26 27 2 5 1 7 9 3 306 3 7 6 4 8 379 5 8 9 2 3 5 4 7 42 41 7 4 3 5 1 8 9 44 45 9 6 4 8 7 2 1 48 1 349 950 6 2 5 4 6 8 5 1 3 7 2 4 2 7 9 6 1 588 5 1 8 2 4 616 3

28

8 2 1 6 3 7 53 4 5 9

31 38

32 39

43 46 51

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Copyright 2019 by The Puzzle Syndicate

ACROSS 1 Instrument 52 Fully featured in the 53 Vendor's wagon 1996 film "Shine" 57 Civil War 6 Talk big nickname 10 States further 59 Gung-ho 14 Building annex 60 Heavy metal 15 Capitol Hill 61 Quiz answer worker 62 Performance 16 Boxing match place 17 Make baskets 63 Printed letters 18 Decorative 64 Cordage fiber enamelware 65 Liable to lose it 20 Junior, to Senior 22 Cone-bearing DOWN evergreen 1 Chess piece 23 Some jeans 2 Anagram of 24 DiCaprio flick, 15-across "_____ Island" 3 "Bonanza" 25 West Coast brother sluggers 4 Short book 28 Read a bar code 5 By ____ (alone) 29 Financial 6 Kickstarts, in a holdings way 31 Sorority letter 7 Get to 36 Make revisions 8 Bustle 37 Calendar girl 9 Kimono-clad 39 Love handles, entertainer essentially 10 Cut short 40 Steer away 11 Dunkable treat 42 Sacred text 12 Slow-witted one 44 Eye flirtatiously 13 Take the wheel 46 Car radio button 19 Gumption 47 Archaic clothing 21 "The Boy Who 51 Bit of heckling Cried Wolf" writer

24 Use elbow grease on 25 Acted like 26 Stem joint 27 Sandpaper surface 28 Inasmuch as 30 Hosiery thread 32 Post-hospital tending 33 Calculator symbol 34 Remove the rind 35 Look out for, say 38 They'll hold water 41 66, famously 43 Get the oven ready 45 Word before spurt or chart 47 Come calling 48 Contest submission 49 Brownstone feature 50 1000 kilograms 51 Kentucky Derby drink 53 Shade of purple 54 Stretches 55 Landlord's due 56 Cafeteria item 58 "Right you ___!"

Puzzle answers are available at www.flagpole.com/puzzles

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movies

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Thursday, December 19

GROWN FOLKS DANCE PARTY WITH WXAG’S DJ SEGAR AND MYERS HOWARD 6-11pm R&B and Jazz $5 til 8pm, $10 after 8pm

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THE ROYAL VELVET Fri. December 20

GET THE LED OUT! FEATURING OTIS Sat. December 21

BLUES OLYMPICS (NUÇI’S SPACE BENEFIT) Mon. Decmeber 23

MINGLEWOOD MONDAY Sat. December 28

HUGHES TAYLOR BAND Mon. December 30

SHADY REJECTS WITH THE ICEMAN SPECIAL

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NYE EVE EARLY SHOW WITH BLOODKIN LATE SHOW WITH FIVE EIGHT 240 N. LUMPKIN ST. / 706-546-4742

20

movie dope

The Best Flicks of 2019

ful homages, framing and score add up to more than a lump of coal.

RICHARD JEWELL (R) Too bad Clint Eastwood’s

best film since the mid-aughts is marred by unnecessary controversy. After a bomb goes off at the 1996 Olympics held in Atlanta, security guard Richard Jewell (another

By Drew Wheeler movies@flagpole.com excellent performance by I, Tonya’s Paul Walter Hauser) was hailed as a hero for Recently, the Atlanta Film Critics Circle, to three days before being torn apart by the a fantastical tale of co-ed murder firmly which I belong, kicked off awards season FBI’s false accusations that were printed in grounded in the reality of campus sexual with the announcement of its 2019 winthe Atlanta Journal-Constitution. assault as Riley (Imogen Poots), a rape surners. We named Parasite the No. 1 movie Purposefully or not, Eastwood has probvivor, slowly realizes her sorority sisters are of the year; the other nine feted films were ably made the president’s favorite film of going missing.

The Irishman, Marriage Story, Once Upon the year, as focused as it is upon two of his Far from abjectly bad, Black Christmas is a Time in Hollywood, 1917, Little Women, favorite villains, the FBI and the media. oddly unsuccessful for reasons not actually Uncut Gems, Knives Out, Pain and Glory and The film expertly conveys the appalling tied to its confrontational gender polemics.

Apollo 11. Five of these films treatment Jewell experienced also appeared in my top 10: at their hands, so why underBlack Christmas Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, mine the entire message with Parasite, Marriage Story, The one unnecessary moment of Irishman and Knives Out. I also narrative license? Oscar winner included Avengers: Endgame, The Billy Ray recklessly chose to fill Farewell, Booksmart, Jojo Rabbit a plot hole with a defamatory and Joker. Catch up over the explanation for the source AJC holidays if you can. crime reporter Kathy Scruggs The final wide release dates (Olivia Wilde) used to break the of 2019 hold fascinating, news that Jewell was the prime high-powered potential highsuspect. lighted by Star Wars: The Rise Minus this one indefensible of Skywalker, J.J. Abrams’ scene, Richard Jewell would be highly anticipated closing chapan easily recommendable glance Get down here right now to the Christmas tree farm! You know I can’t make decisions! at recent history boasting ter of Disney’s sequel trilogy.

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats another breakout performance Cuts to ensure a PG-13 excise the gory kills finally arrives with polarizing anthropofrom character actor Hauser and Sam demanded of a successful slasher—still, morphic effects used to turn its all-star Rockwell, as Jewell’s grouchy lawyer. Utilize the movie slyly tweaks the original’s iconic cast into felines. Jay Roach exposes Fox whatever means of personal editing— kills—and the trailer joylessly spoiled the News in Bombshell, starring Charlize hands over ears and eyes may sound childmystery of the killer’s identity weeks ago.

Theron, Nicole Kidman and Margot Robbie. ish but is effective—at your disposal when Though the climactic introduction of superChristmas Day brings Greta Gerwig’s critWilde meets Hamm at a local bar, and you natural agency forces a late move toward ical fave, Little Women, and an animated will have made a better storytelling decision Stepford allegory, Black Christmas’ thoughtfamily feature, Spies in Disguise, where a than Eastwood or his collaborators. f James Bond proxy voiced by Will Smith is turned into a pigeon. The only major New Year’s release is another remake/reboot of The Grudge, which at least boasts a strong trailer.

Cinematic pickings around town are expectedly light during the holidays. At Flicker, Chuck Norris saves Christmas in 1985’s Invasion U.S.A. on Dec. 18, while Pachinko Pop Cinema presents Truck Yaro 10: Run Truck Rascal, Run! on Dec. 19.

Enjoy Movies by Moonlight at Sandy Creek Park on Dec. 20 with Rudolph the RedNosed Reindeer and A Muppet Christmas: Letters to Santa. The ACC Library fights the post-holiday blues with The Muppet Christmas Carol on Dec. 27 and Downton Abbey on Jan. 2. The Bogart Library presents Elf as an Interactive Movie for Tweens on Dec. 20. On Dec. 23, the Oconee Library lets you open A Christmas Story a day early. Beechwood’s Flashback Cinema offer two more Christmas classics with National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation on Dec. 18 and It’s a Wonderful Life on Dec. 22 and 24.

Enjoy the last reviews of 2019, and see you next year!

PLUS, STAR WARS AND MORE TO WATCH THIS WEEK

BLACK CHRISTMAS (PG-13) Holiday horror,

particularly Christmas slashers, are horror’s best subgenre—the lights and music make excellent counterpoints to the gory kills.

1974’s Black Christmas is one of the greatest of all time, and I believe the 2006 remake to be colorfully bonkers in all the right ways. Enter indie filmmaker Sophia Takal, whose new take on Bob Clark’s original has more on its mind than your usual shallow slasher. Takal and writer April Wolfe spin

FLAGPOLE.COM | DECEMBER 18, 2019

advice

hey, bonita…

My Guy’s Diagnosis

Athens, GA’s

ADVICE FOR ATHENS’ LOOSE AND LOVELORN

For the adult in all of us.

By Bonita Applebum advice@flagpole.com Hey Bonita, I can’t see any way out of doing something incredibly harsh to one of the most quality guys I’ve ever met. I’m gay, and he and I met back in the spring. We’ve only been on three or four actual dates in six months of talking, but it was also going slow by design. I took the next step before Thanksgiving and got him to spend the weekend with me. We got along perfectly, as usual, but then he took a Xanax because we needed to talk about something. It turns out that he is HIV positive, and he couldn’t get up the nerve to tell me until that last night. I get the impression that in the couple of years since he was diagnosed, I’m the only guy who didn’t immediately send him home or say I wasn’t interested anymore.

He’s on medication and “undetectable,” but Bonita, I don’t think I can do this. I know I’m not the only man, gay or straight, who wants to date somebody with whom I could eventually have unprotected sex. The intimacy is on a whole ’nother level. But how in the hell can I break it off without deservedly feeling like shit?

can actually be undetectable, so I sought out info from an expert on the issue. Barry Zingman, the medical director of the AIDS Center at Montefiore Medical Center and professor of medicine at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, told the San Francisco AIDS Foundation in 2018 that “if [someone is] undetectable and [has] been on HIV medications for at least six months, and [they] continue that treatment, the risk of transmitting HIV is effectively zero.” If you are taking PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) daily or PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) after exposure, then your bases are extra covered.

Seriously, you can relax as long as he’s taking care of himself—and he clearly is.

You can acquire PrEP and PEP by going to the weekly PrEP Clinic at Live Forward on Wednesdays between 10 a.m.–5 p.m. While you’re there, you can ask them all about undetectable viral loads or anything else that unsettles or confuses you. I say all of this because I can tell that you are into this

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I still care deeply for him, and he hasn’t done anything wrong. I don’t know if I can live with myself either way.

Do I break things off and become the latest guy to break this dude’s heart, or do I let it roll on its own and always have this in the back of my mind? We had protected sex before that talk, and frankly, it was reeeeeeeally good. But now I don’t know if I’ll be able to enjoy it, or at least as much. Am I the bad guy here?

You’re not a bad guy. Your concerns here are very common, but they’re also pretty unfounded. This is my last advice column of the year, and usually, I offer some sort of yearly redux and a few sweet words, but I couldn’t bear to let this languish in my inbox. I feel that you are letting your very old school ideas about HIV come between you and someone you really like, and you don’t have to.

First, you should trust modern medicine.

You don’t seem to believe that a viral load

Now- Dec 22nd Receive A

guy and you enjoyed sex with him. In 2019, an HIV diagnosis is not the death sentence that it was in the ’80s.

With meds and support, your potential bae has every opportunity in the world to have a happy sex life without passing HIV to you or anyone else.

I think you should read up on HIV and people’s experiences of being negative while having a positive partner. Update your perspective a bit. If you still can’t handle the idea and want to break it off with this guy, you just need to do that. Buy the ticket, take the ride. Dumping him over this is gonna hurt him no matter what, but you’re probably right that you would not be the first. It’s your body and your life, and you have every right to dump him because of his diagnosis, even if it’s not the kindest move in the world. But if you do that, then you need to own it. f

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comics

CALL FOR ENTRIES

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Film submissions due Feb. 2, 2020 Contest is open to K-12th graders

THEME: World Water Day

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RippleEffectFilmProject.org

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FLAGPOLE.COM | DECEMBER 18, 2019

locally grown

news

pub notes

A Year of Turmoil HERE’S HOPING WE CAN FIGURE OUT SOME SOLUTIONS

By Pete McCommons pete@flagpole.com The year ends not with a bang, but a loud university and was still smoldering when whimper. Our nation is caught in a turmoil Means began to look around for allies to that revolves around one man. Our commu- back up his heavy-handed assault on the nity, through its schools, is also agitated by status quo within the public school system. a one-man turmoil that has set us asunder Now, Means is leaving, but the anger is still into two groups who can no longer even strong. agree on the meaning of words.

Our history also includes another parOur schools, denigrated as they have allel universe that might be called “weird always been by those who choose white Athens”: the music and arts communities flight into private schools and Oconee founded on subsistence labor in the restauCounty, are now held up as homegrown rants, bars and clubs that contribute to a havens of racism. Our intown neighborsort of café society and its spinoffs. Weird hoods we fought so Athens and its cultural hard to save from those enrichments are under African Americans were siege from the migrawho would tear them down are now enclaves freed from bondage but tion of information to of the wealthy. Our the internet and from not from ostracism. local businesses that the Atlanta-ization of set us apart from mass Athens. Emblematic of merchandising are faltering as the chains this assault, oddly, is the HOPE Scholarship. gain a stranglehold, even in banks and the Devised as a means of helping needy stumedical community, formerly strongholds dents attend college, it quickly morphed of private initiative. into money that could be used by any How do we gain the perspective amid student with a “B” average, regardless of all this change and devolution to see ourneed. Hence, the HOPE became a conduit selves clearly? Where do we start? With the for students from Atlanta, so that it cut out Creek Indians? This land we inhabit was the not merely the poorer students for whom it Creeks’ beloved land, but we drove them was intended but most of the students from out and enslaved Africans in order to turn outside the Atlanta area, thus inhibiting subsistence farming into capitalism, which both economic and geographic diversity. supported the founding and maintaining Here it all comes together. Most jobs of the university, which gave birth to the for African Americans at the university are town. And the town and the university custodial, and the wages are more or less and the schools were segregated. African subsistence, tending to perpetuate working Americans were freed from bondage, but poverty in Athens. not from ostracism, and continued in a sort Most of the Atlanta students now of parallel universe within the Classic City concentrated in the high-rise apartments but apart, in their own neighborhoods, downtown want the franchise food and churches, schools and businesses, doing for clothing to which they’re accustomed. subsistence wages the work white men and Landlords want the rents the franchises are women didn’t want to do. willing to pay.

And then African-American environs Wham, bam: You’ve got Chick-fil-A within Athens were swept away by national instead of the downtown Taco Stand; currents that financed Urban Renewal you’ve got Urban Outfitters instead of for the eradication George Dean’s clothof “slums.” Stable ing and Lamar Lewis’ Wham, bam: You’ve got shoes. You’ve got Avid neighborhoods where African Americans had Chick-fil-A instead of Bookshop closing its lived for generations Prince Avenue location, the downtown Taco Stand. were torn down to free Daily Groceries Co-Op up land for the expanstruggling, Ike & Jane sion of downtown and because the univergone, Eden’s Café gone, Flagpole hanging sity wanted Baxter Hill. The residents of on, the black barbershops on Hot Corner those areas were made essentially homeless, squeezed onto one corner. because there were few places available for We can hope that in 2020 the country Urban Renewal’s “relocation” programs. and the school system will begin to sort The other federal initiative, Model Cities, things out with more attention to equality. brought jobs, infrastructure and political The shakeup in local businesses is liable participation for African Americans, and to continue in the new year, maybe even the Civil Rights Act brought protections accelerate. against discrimination. Finally, racial Our economy is largely built on the integration in the public schools meant tastes of suburban Atlanta kids. If “local” basically that the African-American schools means only the terrain they pass through were closed, and everybody went to the for four years, the rest of us have got to suswhite schools, except all those white people tain ourselves however we can. who started their own schools.

All of us locals are weird in our own And then, just before Superintendent ways. Perhaps it’s time we embrace our Demond Means arrived to insist on equity weirdness and each other and make Athens in our public schools, the university’s cala place for all of us. Maybe it’s time to reslous treatment of burial grounds containing urrect One Athens, that local economic inithe remains of enslaved Athenians came tiative killed by the 2008 recession. Maybe to light. Outrage in the black community it’s time to come back together and figure was never adequately addressed by the out how to make Athens work. f

“

“

215 North Lumpkin St. • Athens, GA

18 & over / ID reqd. Tickets available online and at Georgia Theatre Box Office

COMING SOON

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20

JUMP LITTLE CHILDREN

1/10

REHAB

1/11

CHARLIE STARR W/ BENJI SHANKS

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UNDERGROUND SPRINGHOUSE

1/16

YACHT ROCK REVUE

1/18

TURKUAZ

1/23

PIP THE PANSY

1/25

RANDY ROGERS BAND

1/29

TODD SNIDER

1/30

W/ HULA HI-FI

BIG SOMETHING & ANDY FIASCO

1/31

MOTHERS FINEST

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2/5

LOST DOG STREET BAND

2/6-7

MOON TAXI

2/8

SPACE JESUS

2/10

SHANE MAUSS – HEAD TALKS

2/12

WE WERE PROMISED JETPACKS

2/13

SHOVELS & ROPE

2/14

COLONY HOUSE

2/15

INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS

2/20

RUSTON KELLY (40 WATT CLUB)

2/25

ANDERSON EAST & FOY VANCE

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TRAMPLED BY TURTLES

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OF MONTREAL

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ASHLEY MCBRYDE –

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3/17

AFTM W/ SLEEPWALKER

3/19

LAWRENCE

3/20

RYAN HURD

3/25

BLACK LABEL SOCIETY

3/26

MINNESOTA

3/28

THE CADILLAC THREE

4/1

THE CHOIR OF MAN

4/2

AGAINST ME (40 WATT CLUB)

4/17

JAMESON RODGERS

4/20

ANGEL OLSEN

4/21

CITIZEN COPE

4/22

SHANNON & THE CLAMS

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AARON WATSON

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23

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