The LocaL, April 2018

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April 2018

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April 2018

STUFF TO READ SIA ETEMADI

Transformin Neighborhoods

THE DAMCASTER

GREEN SPACE

The Bradley Olmsted Garden

MILITARY K9 MEMORIAL UPSTREAM Online Film Festival

MUSIC SPOTLIGHT MUSIC TREES COLUMBUS Going Green

ARTBEAT COCKTAIL CLUB

Letter W from the Editor

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hatever the whims of Georgia weather, Spring has certainly sprung, and I can’t wait for all of the wonderful events coming up under blue skies and cool breezes.

Creative South, Paddle South, Thunder in the Valley, Friday Night Concert Series—Spring ushers in a busy season of varied events. This month, we are featuring Artbeat, an umbrella organization that brings together our community’s creative resources for a three week showcase of art, music, theatre, food and just plain fun. You’ll notice many of our events across the calendars are accompanied by a logo; these logos indicate Artbeat events. Take a stroll through the calendars. I guarantee you’ll find more fun events than you’ll have the time to attend.

Over the past month, as I interviewed so many of the people who make these fantastic events possible, I was struck by a certain attitude they all shared. The organizers and volunteers for these wonderful events have in common an enthusiastic dedication to making the world around them a better place. They invest their time into works benefitting the public for the sake of the public. Theirs is a generous spirit, directed by an eye toward helping others. Our job with this magazine is to provide a venue for that same spirit. We exist to connect you with the events and people who make our community livelier, friendlier, a better place to live.

The LocaL is fast approaching its oneyear anniversary. In that time, I hope we have provided our community with a resource, a single source for all things relating to entertainment and the arts. This magazine is by design a community publication.

As the editor of a community publication, I want to do two things. First, I want to thank you all for reading, for picking up copies in local businesses, for sharing our stories on social media, for suggesting us to your friends.

Second, I want to ask a small favor. The favor is this: get involved.

There are many ways to get involved.

Volunteering with a local charity goes a long way, and so does attending an event. Thanking those who make these events possible makes a positive impact. Little gestures add up to major change, and when we take the time to appreciate the good things we already have, we plant the seeds for more good things to come.

This April, get out and enjoy all of the good our community has to offer, and look for little ways to lend a hand. You won’t be disappointed that you did.

Thank you for reading, Tom Ingram Editor

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t hel o cal co l u bu s . co m f acebo o k . co m/ t hel o cal co l u mbu s g a

What We Are All About.

The mission of the LocaL magazine is to bring you the best in art, music, food and fun from Columbus and the surrounding area. Locally owned and operated, we work to improve and expand community relationships through promoting positive events and stories. When good things are happening, we will be here to help you get involved. Our monthly print issues will feature stories and events that comprise and drive the ongoing surge toward a more beautiful community. This magazine exists because we who work on it believe in actively engaging with community improvement, and we invite you to join us, not only by reading these pages, but also by taking part in any of the many wonderful events we feature.

publisher

Monica Jones

pu bl i s her @t hel o cal co l u mbu s . co m ads @t hel o cal co l u mbu s . co m

editor

Tom Ingram edi t o r @t hel o cal co l u mbu s . co m

layout & design Mat Cornett

CONTRIBUTORS AND CREDITS

Frank Etheridge Joe Miller Bobbi Yeo Richard Edwards Shae Anderson Garry Pound (Illustration) April 2018

Sia Etemadi COLLABORATION AND COMMUNICATION,

with a little artistic vision, can transform neighborhoods

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by Tom Ingram

ptown Columbus in the early 1980s was, in many ways, not an attractive neighborhood. Blighted, dilapidated and almost hopeless, it is easy, 30 years later, to take for granted the area’s transformation into a show-piece historic district full of colorful homes and businesses.

But Etemadi’s focus is always at home. From his 2nd Avenue loft office, in an old school building he owns, surrounded by pictures of his family and sketchbooks, blueprints and art, Etemadi’s energies are concentrated on the community. Even as he continues with various plans to improve Uptown, including burying power lines to help beautify the district, his eye is moving south to other neighborhoods in need of vision and engagement. At the moment, he looks to South Lumpkin Road.

Etemadi sees parallels between South Lumpkin Road today and the Uptown he moved to in the 80s. There are charming homes throughout, and there’s a winding riverfront space waiting for redevelopment.

For Etemadi, so much of a neighborhood’s future is contingent upon beautification. Beautifying a neighborhood, Etemadi says, “changes your whole vision, inspires you to do more for your home.”

“The city can do more to help neighborhoods along,” Etemadi says.

“We need better communication, collaboration.”

Given his history of communication and collaboration in Uptown, Etemadi is poised to play a key role in the revitalization of yet another vital Columbus neighborhood.

But real people, guided by their individual visions and willingness to collaborate, made the remarkable transformation possible. One of those people is Sia Etemadi.

After two years at Columbus College, Etemadi moved to Auburn, where he studied architecture. He came to architecture through his interest in art. While taking photos for a class project in 1982, he fell in love with the old homes of the historic district.

“The beauty catches you first,” he says. “You start daydreaming.”

After graduating from Auburn University with a bachelor’s degree in architecture in 1984, with a thesis on revitalizing downtown Columbus, Etemadi began making those daydreams real. He returned to Columbus and purchased the Captain Charles Blank House at 501 2nd Avenue, inaugurating his long career transforming Columbus into a more beautiful, safe and friendlier place to live.

Etemadi is not an architect. He is a designer, which he sees as an artistic pursuit. Since 1984, Etemadi has lent his artistic eye to some 150 Historic District homes, a career that has transformed the neighborhood and brought him dozens of awards and honors, including

BY GARRY POUND at least a dozen recognitions for outstanding contribution in the field of historic preservation by the Historic Columbus Foundation. For Etemadi, the mission is about people.

“If you like the structures and the people,” he says, finding ways to bring a community together are natural. Whether working with neighbors to contribute time and “sweat equity” to a particular house, or organizing yard sales to raise money for community reinvestment, Etemadi’s energies have been integral to the steady remodeling of Uptown Columbus into the community we enjoy today.

Etemadi’s mark is not limited to Uptown.

Working with established architectural firms and eventually his own company, Etemadi’s designs can be seen across our community and the country. Most notably, the Sun Trust building on First Avenue is his work. He also designed many 7TH STREET OFFICES & STUDIOS other Sun Trust banks in Columbus, including the buildings at Bradley Park, Cross Country Plaza and 13th Street. Many of the United Artists movie theaters are his design, too.

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PAWS HUM A N E S

Sad Beginning – Happy Ending

everal weeks ago, a dog named Camo, became an internet sensation. He was tethered by a heavy chain that was wrapped around his neck multiple times.

The chain was tangled making it significantly shorter and heavier. When help arrived he nearly hung himself when he jumped off a car in his enclosure.

Sadly, death by hanging is an all too common occurrence for tethered dogs. In other cases, a rope or chain becomes wrapped around a leg which becomes so badly injured it has to be amputated. Frightened dogs on chains may growl and snap as a means to protect themselves when forced to exist in such vulnerable circumstances. Over the long-term, chaining can damage a dog’s psyche beyond repair.

Columbus has a well-written and enforceable anti-tethering ordinance and Camo’s tether was illegal on several counts. Lindsay Ellis, the PAWS Humane outreach coordinator, was working in a nearby neighborhood when she saw the Facebook post. She stopped by the residence to see if she could help the

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owner do a better job of caring for her dog. There she met Anna-Claire Daniels from Animal SOS, both arriving just minutes before the animal control officer responded to a neighbor’s complaint.

Anna-Claire and Lindsay spoke with neighbors who claimed they had made several reports of abuse to animal control over the past six months. While the animal control officer was stern with the dog owner, he did not seize Camo. Instead, he issued a citation and left the scene.

Lindsay and Anna-Claire were able to convince the owner to let them take Camo to a local veterinarian for treatment. The vet did a thorough exam and committed his findings to writing. This document was then used to get an impoundment order that allowed Animal SOS to hold Camo in a safe place until the court date.

There were a number of easily observable signs of abuse. Camo was extremely emaciated. His neck was deeply scarred, likely the result of an embedded collar. He was bleeding from the neck and he was covered in fleas. It was no surprise when he tested positive for hookworms, whipworms, and heartworm.

It is difficult to understand why more decisive action was not taken by animal control. We can only imagine the bureaucratic burden attached to the act of seizing someone’s pet. There may be complications in the system that are not visible to those of us on the outside.

All I can say with certainty is that the system appears to be failing companion animals. Lucky for Camo, word of his plight spread far and wide.

During the hearing set to decide Camo’s fate, Judge Joyner, clearly a dog lover, told us he received 10,000 emails from people all over the United States.

Judge Joyner took decisive action, legally separating Camo from his previous owner. Thanks to Animal SOS Camo’s treatment for his myriad health issues will be completed. Best of all, Camo has been adopted by the gentleman who first sounded the alarm and won freedom for this sweet dog. Camo now lives in a home where he will receive the love and care he deserves.

Bobbi Yeo lives in Opelika, AL. She is the CEO of PAWS Humane in Columbus, GA, an animal shelter and veterinary clinic offering low-cost spay/neuter and other services to the public. Email her at byeo@pawshumane.org with your comments and story ideas.

Adoption Hours Mon-Fri•10am-6pm, Sat•10am-5pm, Sun•12pm-5pm 4900 Milgen Road Columbus, GA 31907 www.pawshumane.org office@pawshumane.org (706) 565-0035 Vet Clinic phone number (706) 987-8380

The Damcaster OUT OF AN HISTO RIC CO L UM BUS DAM comes the next wave of custom guitars

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olumbus-native Frank Schley was in his freshman year at the University of Georgia, studying psychology, when he received his first guitar. By graduation, his interest in pursuing a graduate degree in psychology had waned while his interest in the guitar had waxed. He began looking for a luthier academy.

Luthiers are guitar makers, skilled craftspeople, and after a tour of Baxendale Guitar in Athens, Schley knew he had found his calling. After a year-long program learning the art of guitar making, Schley worked in the shop

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for six months until leaving in 2014.

In 2013, Columbus breached the City Mills Dam to create the urban whitewater course that today draws so many visitors to the city, including for Paddle South, a melange of whitewatercentric events including the USA Freestyle Kayak National Championships, on April 14 and 15. The breaching of the dam also meant the removal

humbled by the community support. He says fellow artists and entrepreneurs help each other, and that “having other people enthusiastic about my business makes me enthusiastic about everyone else’s business.” Before we left, Schley took us next door to the coffee roaster operation run by Jud Richardson from Fountain City Coffee.* *Full disclosure: this and other articles written with the aid of Fountain City Coffee by Tom Ingram

FRANK SCHLEY of the original wooden dam, built in 1828.

Comprising the old wooden dam were enormous sections of now-endangered long leaf pine, trees born in the 1400s. The sudden availability of this rare and unique wood created the perfect opportunity for a luthier returning to his hometown of Columbus.

Jason Burr, a friend and hobby guitar builder, had heard of the rare wood. Thus the Damcaster was born.

“When it comes to any of the guitars I build, I have a romantic mindset,” Schley says. “I try to get to know each customer, build something unique to them.”

His shop is outfitted with the essential tools of any woodworker. It’s the unique skills that set apart a luthier’s work. What sets Schley apart is his focus on the customer, the person

who will take the work into the world and make art with the guitar.

“I don’t build a guitar for someone,” Schley says. “I want to build their guitar.”

In addition to the Damcasters, Schley also makes electric guitars. While the long leaf pine from the dam is limited, he is always on the lookout for other sources of unique wood for his builds. He also sources rock maple from familyowned, sustainable timber land in Maine. Of any guitar built of his family’s maples, Schley can walk back each board of maple to its acre of origin. He not only wants to know his customers, he also knows his materials.

Starting a business is never easy, but when Schley started his business, he was astonished and 5

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Curatorial Roundtable & Community Talkback: Visiting Artist Jonathan VanDyke Please join The Columbus Museum as we engage with internationallyknown visual and performance artist Jonathan VanDyke, who will discuss his on-site projects at The Columbus Museum. Director of Curatorial Affairs Jonathan Frederick Walz and Curator of History Rebecca Bush will interview VanDyke, with ample time for questions and feedback from the public about the artist’s durational performance— taking place from April 5-12 during regular Museum open hours—and related exhibition in the contemporary galleries. RSVP to attend the roundtable and talkback by April 10. This event is free but seating is limited. To register, please contact Lilian Harrell, (706) 748-2562, lharrell@columbusmuseum.com April 12, 6 p.m., The Columbus Museum, 1251 Wynnton Road

Foundations: Retooling+Recontextualizing How are institutions incorporating play, risk-taking, exploration, and community in First Year Studio and Art Appreciation courses? How are these concepts helping to shape the way students think and faculty teach? Visit the Columbus State University’s RiverPark Campus for this one day symposium to share your experiences and favorite project/ lesson plan that incorporates retooling or recontextualisation of Foundations Curriculum. Hear from colleagues as they share what is unique about their programs or classrooms. Learn what worked, what didn’t, and what they plan to do differently in the future. Gain knowledge from faculty who have moved away from a lecture-based Art Appreciation courses and have incorporated new approaches to increase student engagement. April 6, 3 p.m., April 7, 5 p.m., Art Department at Columbus State University, 901 Front Avenue, Columbus

Artwork Groundbreaking Envision our Artwork concept in a family-friendly morning of fun. The Columbus Museum will join to offer a fun activity. Face painting and food trucks on site. April 14, 9 a.m. - noon, Whitewater Express, 1301 3rd Avenue, Phenix City Making Conversations Oral History Training Workshop The Columbus Museum is launching an exciting new oral history project with their neighbors at Warren Williams Homes. Do you like meeting people and hearing about their experiences? Do you enjoy using technology to tell stories and engage in civic dialogue? This training workshop will provide you information about the project, as well as the tools and techniques you need to get started as an oral history interviewer. Event is free, but registration is encouraged. To RSVP, contact Sherricka Day at saday@columbusmuseum.com by April 12.

April 14, 10 a.m. - noon, The Columbus Museum, 1251 Wynnton Road

Art in the Community Ten area schools were selected to collaborate with the Teacher Education Department at CSU to create permanent wall art pieces for their new building in Frank Brown Hall. These art pieces provided crosscurriculum opportunities that met both science and art standards with a real-world application. April 6, 5:30 - 7 p.m., Frank Brown Hall, 1127 Broadway, Columbus

Scholarship & Juried Exhibition Award Reception April 17, 5:30 - 7 p.m., Bay Gallery, Corn Center, 921 Front Avenue, Columbus

Art Walk A traveling reception that visits a variety of locations, including the Corn Center, the Bo Barlett Center, WC Bradley Museum, 10th Street Gallery, Frank Brown Hall and the new Bruno Zupan exhibit. While enjoying new installations at each location, enjoy music and appetizers.

After the walk, enjoy Uptown Columbus’s free Friday Night Concert on the 1000 block of Broadway. April 6, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m., Corn Center, 921 Front Avenue, Columbus

STEAM-Powered Education Evening During this special event, educators and future educators will experience four miniature lessons that incorporate not only history and art, but also science, technology, engineering and math. Participants will have the opportunity to participate in hands-on activities and engage with the Museum in a totally different way. Event is free, but registration required. Contact edu@columbusmuseum.com April 19, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m., The Columbus Museum, 1251 Wynnton Road

Reception for Faculty Exhibition April 6, 5 - 6:30 p.m., Bay Gallery, Corn Center, 921 Front Avenue, Columbus Opening Reception: Portraits from the Do Good Fund Exhibit is up through April 27. April 6, 6 - 8 p.m., CSU Rankin Photography Center, 1004 Broadway, Columbus

The Art of Julianne David: Solo Exhibit Opening Reception April 20, 6 - 9 p.m., Leigh & Paige Fine Art Gallery, 1309 Wildwood, Columbus

YAP Exclusive Tour of

Art Is For Everyone Art is for Everyone will consist of various actives from many of our Artbeat collaborators. There will be art related activities spread throughout the Uptown Columbus area for everyone to enjoy! Join 16+ arts organizations from all over Columbus as we celebrate Art in the Family.

Coinciding with the first spring Market Days on Broadway, this event provides performances, art projects, an instrument petting zoo, a scavenger hunt, and the chance to see what it’s like to make a movie! Activities will be centered around the RiverCenter but will also take you all over downtown to explore. April 7, 9 a.m. - noon, 900 Broadway, Columbus

“Dancing

on the Edge of the Abyss” The Young Art Patrons of the Columbus Museum host distinguished collectors Wes and Missy Chochran to speak on the exhibition “Dancing on the Edge of the Abyss: Abstraction by African American Women Artists in the Cochran Collection.” Refreshments will be served. While the event is free, you must be a YAP member to attend (so join today!). April 26, 7 - 10 p.m., The Columbus Museum, 1251 Wynnton Road, Columbus Star Wars Day Program A long time ago in a gallery far, far away… a special one-day-only program awakened at The Columbus Museum. Join us for a night of Star Wars themed fun! Hone your Jedi skills at our craft stations, gather strength to fight the dark side with our interstellar snacks, and relax to the sounds of music played by our very own Cantina Band!

Explore both the light and dark sides of our permanent collection with a special tour led by one of our intrepid Star Wars heroes or villains, and participate in a costume contest for all ages! Do or do not attend, there is no try, and once May 4 is over, the Millennium Falcon will fly off to another galaxy far, far away! May 4, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m., The Columbus Museum, 1251 Wynnton Road Want to see your event listed here? Email events@thelocalcolumbus.com

Made in MidTown A surprising art exhibit including creative work by over 20 imaginative MidTown residents and business owners. April 7, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., The Chapman House, 1410 Wynnton Road, Columbus The Art of Resilience A solo exhibit that introspectively represents the curriculum and thesis developed by Jessica Katz while she obtained her degree in art education. Over the past two and a half years, she has pursued the topic of fostering the natural human trait of resilience in today’s youth. Food and drink provided. April 11, 5:30 - 8:30 p.m., The UP Factory, 1401 Wynnton Road, Columbus LocaL

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The Bradley Olmsted Garden Offers An Urban Oasis

IN THE HEART OF COLUMBUS

“When I was at Mead, I didn’t get out much,” Bill Consoletti recalls of his 25-year tenure as senior forester for the paper company’s Cottonton, Alabama operations, “so coming out here is a real treat.”

Standing behind the Columbus Museum on the highest terrace overlooking the lush, sprawling Bradley Olmsted Garden below, Consoletti’s Massachusetts accent quickly surfaces as he shares insight from his life-long passion and career.

Upon earning his master’s degree in forestry from Duke University in 1980, Consoletti worked as GIS (geographic information system) manager for a timber company in Macon for seven years before being hired by MeadWestvaco. When the company was purchased by a rival company in 2015, he took an early retirement.

Currently president of his own map resource company, BILL CONSOLETTI Consoletti last year attended a presentation on the garden at the museum where a historic photo grabbed his attention.

“It showed an alley of yew trees, which is an evergreen not native to here,” he explains, pulling off a small sprig to show its short dark-green needles, still vibrant in mid-February. “So I came out here to check them out and saw they could use some work. Most of the original trees were gone and it was overgrown with weeds and vines.”

Now a trained museum docent, Consoletti spent weeks clearing this section of the garden. He then transplanted 15 sets of seedlings and ordered eight yew trees (delivered in seven-gallon buckets from a North Carolina nursery) in his effort to restore the alley of yews to its original 1928 grandeur. “In that old picture, you can see an alley with a line of yews on both sides, which made for a nice formal garden entrance.”

The garden was designed by the prestigious Olmsted Brothers firm—run by descendants of seminal American landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted (Central Park in New York City, Golden Gate Park in San Francisco)— under the close direction of noted industrialist W.C. Bradley, who was in the process of creating his 12acre abode, dubbed Sunset Terrace, following his success as an early investor and long-time board chairman at Coca-Cola. The garden incorporated many of the elder Olmsted’s design aesthetics: sweeping vistas, cascading terraces, dramatic ravines and massive plantings for seasonal effects.

Last month, UGA Press published Seeking Eden: A Collection of Georgia’s Historic Gardens. The Bradley Olmsted Garden is the only one from Columbus featured in the book.

“The Bradley Olmsted Garden has had a remarkable history,” Columbus Museum Curator of History Rebecca Bush tells The Local via email. “The Columbus Museum is proud to be able to tell the story of the world-renowned Olmsted architecture firm through this gem. We encourage everyone to join us for periodic garden concerts, enjoy a stroll through our spectacular azalea blooms, or simply find a shady place to sit and ponder.”

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M I L I TA RY

K9

thousands, easily, over the past few years,” he says. As much for the dogs, the memorial will also be for “the guys who get to come home.

But bronze statues are expensive.

In all, the monument to MPCs would cost $100,000. Despite the set-backs and expense, McPeck was not dissuaded.

As Bob Sebastian, national president of HOOAH, said, McPeck has been “the lynchpin to make this happen.” With the partnership of HOOAH and an everenergetic commitment to memorialize the fallen companions of the 75th Ranger Regiment, McPeck’s fundraising MPC BOY goals are almost realized. He is currently about $15,000 shy of the target.

The K9 Memorial is to be installed on Fort Benning. For those interested in supporting those who serve, whether bi or quadrupedal, please visit hooahinc.org for more information and ways to contribute.

By Tom Ingram

MEMORIAL

one man’s mission to commemorate the dogs who help our soldiers come home

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hey’re trained to recognize 27 distinct explosive odors, and they’re the first to enter potentially hostile areas. Their finely-tuned senses and specialized military training are used for one mission, at which they excel and for which they often sacrifice their lives: saving soldier’s lives. These are the Multi Purpose Canines (MPC), who serve alongside the elite men and women of the 75th Ranger Regiment, and Sean McPeck is on a mission to commemorate their sacrifices.

While serving as the Ranger Regiment veterinary surgeon, McPeck, a ten-year Army veteran, lost several dogs in violent scenarios overseas.

He saw first hand the sacrifices MPCs made. To honor these fallen, fourlegged warriors, McPeck and others organized a lamp ceremony, which is typically reserved for fallen MPC SANDY Rangers. After the ceremony, many fellow Rangers asked McPeck for help. McPeck knew he needed to create a permanent memorial for the dogs. That’s where HOOAH, Inc. comes in.

HOOAH is a volunteer organization whose “mission is to lend support to forward deployed servicemen and women, their stateside families, and returning veterans with a high level of understanding compassion, and empathy.”

HOOAH has chapters all over the country. The Georgia chapter, led by local business owner Gene Lively (Shooters Valhalla 1205 1st Avnue, Columbus), is active in fundraising, sending care packages to soldiers, and helping veterans and their families in times of need. Driven to create a monument in honor of the fallen K9s, McPeck partnered with HOOAH to make it happen.

Initially, it was McPeck’s father, a MPC JANI well-known bronze statue maker, who was to cast the monument, but he passed away three months after signing on to the project. McPeck had heard of an artist, Kevin Kresse, an Arkansas native with an impressive portfolio of public bronze statues, who might be interested in taking up the work.

Kresse was, McPeck says, “the most receptive person” when approached about taking over the project.

The statue will be unique in several ways. First, it will be the largest K9 memorial in the United States. Second, this will be the only statue with a dog in action—the difficult to capture dy-namic is of an MPC going into a breach. Third, the monument will be the only permanent place where soldiers and civilians can go to pay their respects to these fallen dogs. McPeck says it is difficult to estimate just how many MPC SHADOW lives the MPCs have saved. “Into the LocaL

A Hidden Gem With A

BIG Footprint

The Family Theatre

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olumbus is known for hidden gems and well-kept secrets that are doing meaningful work and impacting lives week in and week out.

One such little gem is The Family Theatre, housed in the back of Rose Hill Church off Hamilton Road and now preparing for its 20th season.

While Family Theatre is not a Rose Hill program, the church graciously leases a portion of its building to The Family Theatre and The Dance Academy owned by Melissa Williams.

Guilty of being a local who had never been to The Family Theatre, it only made sense to conduct my interview with Artistic Director Cheryl Palmour on site. I had no idea what to expect, but upon entering, I was pleasantly surprised to find an inviting 80 seat theatre complete with professional lighting and a sound system, additional table seating down front, and a full stage. There’s a small box office area right outside the theatre, the halls are lined with framed art and photographs from local artists, and there’s a quaint café where patrons can bring in their own meals to eat before a show or purchase popcorn and other snacks. Even though it was a chilly, quiet Monday afternoon, I immediately felt at home in the space.

Founded in 1996 and officially launched in 1997, by Anne Stumhofer, after realizing a need for children, particularly homeschooled children to be exposed to the theatre, The Family Theatre floated for the first eight or nine years. They were temporarily housed first at Evangel Temple, then Hilton Terrace, and finally shared a space with the Human Experience Theatre where Cheryl Palmour was preparing to direct To 8

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Kill a Mocking Bird. She reached out to Stumhofer to find child actors for the show and realized that the two organizations could share a space—not realizing that she would, years later, become the Family Theatre’s Executive Director. In 2004, upon an invitation from Rose Hill, The Family Theatre made Rose Hill it’s permanent home and Palmour took over as Artistic Director.

Though they are entering into a transition period, the mission of The Family Theatre still remains the same. The goal is still family centered shows and providing a safe space for young people to hone their craft.

Shows feature both youth and adult actors, and often cast locals with no previous acting experience.

However, once cast, actors tend to land roles in subsequent shows, and through hard work and direction from Cheryl and her artistic team, perfect their crafts.

The Family Theatre has an impressive repertoire of shows, including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, 12 Angry Jurors, Polyana and the Hiding Place. Papa’s Angels, a show set in 1935, and Hard to Spell Dad, a show featuring a dyslexic character and a grandparent battling dementia, are examples of Family Theatre shows that tackle tough topics families often face.

The Theatre has also partnered with the Chattahoochee Valley Library for the Children’s Book Festival and Columbus Reads, where the featured author was Zora Neale Hurston. Palmour had the honor of adapting Zora Neale Hurston and the Chinaberry Tree for the stage for that program.

The small but mighty staff of The Family Theatre includes, in addition to the Artistic Director, Administrative Director – Ruth Sims, Musical Director – Carol Lamb, Box Office Manager – Ricky Thornoton, and founder Anne Stumhofer is still involved on a limited basis. CSU graduate Terrence Smith serves as Stage Manager and is also helping with the theatre’s new marketing efforts. He’s an actor who came to perform in a show and is now training other young people.

The Family Theatre’s staff, along with an engaged Board of Directors, is excitedly looking to the future. Palmour hopes to get the theatre more involved in community activities, form new community partnerships, and offer more acting preparatory classes for actors and aspiring actors.

As she finishes up her M.A. in Theatre Education at Columbus State, Cheryl Palmour is looking forward to another season of quality productions and eventually establishing The Family Theatre as a full time performing arts organization providing even more quality shows and programming to the community at large.

If you haven’t visited the Family Theatre, look them up and plan a family night out to one of their upcoming shows. Camps for youth will be offered during the summer months. Let’s be sure to help keep the arts scene thriving in the Columbus area by supporting special gems like The Family Theatre.

By Shae Anderson LocaL

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No Shame Theatre

At 10:30 every Friday night, the Springer plays host to No Shame Theatre. No Shame Theatre is an uncensored evening of original performance that allows anyone to explore their creative potential.

Signup begins at 10 p.m., and the first 15 to sign up get a five-minute time slot to perform their original material. Admission is $5, including for performers. Every Friday, Springer Opera House, 103 10th Street, Columbus, (706) 324-5714

Perfect Arrangement

This laugh-out-loud comedy by Georgia’s brilliant rising star playwright, Topher Payne, blows the cover off of the very serious government witch-hunt of the 1950s, led by the zealous Sen. Joseph McCarthy. Payne’s sit-com-style play spotlights the period in which McCarthy’s “Red Scare” spun off an even more sinister offspring, the “Lavender Scare,” the government’s search for “sexual deviants.” The comedy focuses on four gay State Department employees who struggle to keep their secrets in the closet—literally. April 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, & 21 at 7:30 p.m., and April 22 at 2:30 p.m., The Springer Opera House, 103 East 10th Street, Columbus

Writing with Light: the poets of cinema

Jim Jarmusch’s first dream was to be a poet, and he claims to have written poetry his whole life, though he’s rarely shown his poems to anyone. Maybe that’s why a poetry thread runs through his films, from Roberto Benigni reciting “Bob” Frost in Italian in Down By Law, to William Blake wandering the American West in Dead Man, to Ghost Dog’s mash-up of Japanese aphorisms with hip hop rhythm and rhymes.

His most recent is his most explicit, poetically speaking. Paterson (A) is the only movie ever made about a bus-driving poet, and it’s a perfect choice for April, National Poetry Month. There are long, dreamy passages where the main character, Paterson, played by Adam Driver, reads his poetry over imagery of him driving and the city going by. The poetry was written by New York School poet Ron Padgett, and the film Itself is even kind shaped of like a poem — a sestina, perhaps, or better yet a semana, because it unfolds across the seven days of a week, as if Monday and Tuesday and so on were each a stanza. It even rhymes! That is, if you consider the eerie, unexplained, recurring appearances of twins to be rhymes.

Yet for all his cinematic lyricism, Jarmusch is not considered the poet of

Behind Closed Doors

Immersive theatre experience at the Lion House features seven 10minute plays, each created specifically for a room in one of Columbus’s great old homes. Limited admission, cocktail party to follow. April 13 & 14, The Lion House, 1316 3rd Avenue, Columbus

Spring Awakening

Winner of 8 Tony Awards in 2007, including Best Musical, Best Book and Best Original Score. In their dynamic reimagining of Spring Awakening, Water and Sheik have created a groundbreaking rock musical about adolescent love, the trials of puberty and the friendship that young people build in the face of an uncomprehending world. Inspired by Frank Wedekin’s once-banned and still provocative German play from 1891, this Spring Awakening holds up a mirror to our own time, and has become the must-see musical of a new generation. Not suited for audiences under 18. April 13, 14, 19, 20, 21 at 7:30 p.m.; April 15 at 2:30 p.m., Riverside Theatre, 6 West 10th Street, Columbus

Way Down Film Society

In honor of National Jazz Appreciation Month, we will screen to Be Blue, featuring Ethan Hawke as famed jazz trumpeter Baker. Bring food and drink of your choices, watch a film and in the post-screening discussion. April 18, 6:30 p.m., Room 311 at University—Phenix City, 1510 Whitewater Avenue

Born Chet join Troy

The Sound of Music

The spirited, romantic story of Maria and the von Trapp Family returns to Columbus. April 18, 7:30 p.m., RiverCenter for the Performing Arts, 900 Broadway, Columbus

Last of the Red Hot Lovers

A delirious comedy starring popular Hollywood and Broadway Guest Artist Brian Reddy. Barney Cashman is an awkward, overweight, middleaged married man who decides to have a fling before modern life passes him by. He arranges three seductions—Elaine, a frenetic bundle of nerves; Bobbi, a kooky actress; and Jeanette, a depressed housewife.

As a red hot lover, Barney is a complete bumbling failure. But in a tender, moving conclusion, Barney rediscovers the enduring fulfillment of true love—with his wife. April 27, 28, May 3, 4, 5, 10, 11 and 12 at 7:30 p.m., and April 29 and May 6 at 2:30 p.m., The Springer Opera House, 103 East 10th Street, Columbus Want to see your event listed here? Email events@thelocalcolumbus.com LocaL

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cinema. That honor goes to Russia’s Andrei Tarkovsky. His films don’t follow plots so much as drift from image to image and moment to moment the way poems do, and they’re breathtakingly beautiful.

The Mirror (FS) is his most overtly poetic. It’s plot, such that is, follows the drifting dreams of a dying poet who’s looking back on his life across the 20th century. Some memories are shown in crisp black and white, and others in the kind of rich, deep color that can only be filmed during the golden hour between sunset and dark. Accompanying many of these images are poems by Tarkovsky’s father, Arseny Tarkovsky, one of Russia’s preeminent poets. They’re exquisitely read — musical, almost sensuous, and it’s so captivating that I often stop reading the subtitles and simply listen.

But my pick for the true poet of cinema is Maya Deren. In the 1940s she made a handful of films that are not widely known but are nonetheless landmarks in the history of film as a poetic medium. To me, they’re more like poems than the films of Jarmusch and Tarkovsky because they’re short, as poems typically are.

Her most highly regarded cinematic work is Meshes of the Afternoon (FS), her first. This 14-minute composition follows a woman as she roams a modernist house and garden encountering a series of simple motifs — a flower, a key, a shiny knife, cloaked figure with a mirror for a face, a disconnected phone, the ocean. Toward the end a man appears, and it concludes with the woman’s death. Like a poem, the film’s meaning is open to interpretation.

Critic J. Hoberman says “it reproduces the way in which the subconscious of an individual will develop, interpret and elaborate an apparently simple and casual incident into a critical emotional experience.”

Which might be true. To be honest, I’m not really sure what it means, nor can I say I fully understand its sequel, At Land, with its beguiling reverseaction shots of ocean waves crashing away from the shore, revealing a woman strewn in the sand. But I love watching them over and over again, the way I love rereading poems. For me, it’s about the experiences they create, and the reprieve they offer from the ever-advancing plot of life.

Ab b r e vi a t i on s K e y : A = A m a z o n ; FS = Fi l m S t r u c k Joe Miller is an Associate Professor of English at Columbus State and a certified film freak.

April 2018

the back-up vocals on “Sweet Home Alabama” to Aretha Franklin’s duets with Duane Allman. And, Buchanan’s good friend David Hood (father to Patterson Hood of the Drive-By Truckers, who are “killer!” in his words) work as bassist with a gospel group come Civil Rights leaders in the Staples Singers (dig their fantastic “Respect Yourself”).

“Because of being with the Shakes I became good friends with David Hood,” he says, “and so I was able to take the group of students in the popular music ensemble to Muscle Shoals and really get the insider’s look into all that incredible history. I took them to Fame Studios, Sun Drop Studios, and we got a behind-the-scenes tour of the renovation of Muscle Shoals Studio.

Buchanan credits such fruits of relationship building as key to his success. A father, he knows he’s made it in the music world now, and exudes positive energy even with a work/life balance now including caretaker role for a father battling cancer and a sister who moved in with him as she recovers from a car wreck that, hopefully temporarily, has left virtually paralyzed from the waist down.

“I like being challenged, I like being creative,” he explains. “I get up, wake up everyday and think about music. ‘What am I going to record today?’ What am we going to write today?’ What am I going to learn today?’ That’s what we do.”

Lloyd Buchanan’s Cubed Roots play the Uptown Concert Series, 1000 block of Broadway stage, 7 p.m. Friday, April 14.

By Frank Etheridge

Lloyd Buchanan

L

That Gospel Groove

ike most Georgia-grown musical genius, Lloyd Buchanan’s roots run deep in the church.

Raised in a house where secular music was forbidden by strict motherly decree, his first exposure came from watching his grandfather,

Ernest Childs, Sr., wow crowds as part of gos-pel vocal quartets. “I grew up with a bunch of guys in a gospel quartet that was a younger version of what my grandad was doing,” Buchanan explains over coffee. “We would spend weekends going from church program to church program.”

A veteran of such gigs as East Highlands tent revivals and Peggy Jenkins’ backing band in his 20s, Buchanan’s now an in-demand producer, arranger, session player, bandleader, multi-instrumentalist and globetrotting artist as keyboardist/vocalist with the Alabama Shakes. Yet, His calling card has long been his wizardry on the B3 organ, the instrument lifting the divine melodies and pounding the holy rhythms of gospel music since the sacred music’s inception. Today 34, Buchanan was introduced to the B3 when his church, House of Living God in his native Manchester in Talbot County, was gifted one. He was already playing piano, often in tandem with a drummer and sometimes also with a guitarist, so “it was a smooth acclimation” to the legendary Hammond B3 organ suddenly at his 15-year-old fingertips.

“Because my mom was real strict about NO secular music,” Buchanan recalls, “I wasn’t 18 or 19 until I saw Billy Preston playing the B3. Then it was, ‘Oh snap! This is what that can do.’”

A similar lightning flash of inspiration came during his first rehearsal with the Alabama Shakes in 2014. “I sent them some samples after I got the call,” Buchanan says from when the band sought out a fuller touring-ensemble sound with keys and vocals to back the brilliant Brittany Howard in the Grammy-winning rock band from Athens, Alabama. “I go up there and after the first rehearsal, we were all like, ‘Oh yeah! This will work. This will be good.’”

Melbourne, Australia is his favorite place touring with the Shakes has taken him—“beautiful people, beautiful place right there on the ocean”—but Buchanan continues to credit his up-bringing in the church and at Christian Way Academy in Manchester (pop: 3,700), which has also produced Alicia Keys’ musical director and a rising R&B producer among his peers. This is a region heralded for its peaches but also home to a proud history as a cradle of African-American gospel music, as reportedly the first publications achieved by blacks in American history came in the 1830s was that of hard-bound sheet music of sacred music, done as part of the efforts of slave-holding Presbyterian clergyman and missionary Dr. Rev. Charles Colcock, who printed The Religious Instructions of Negroes in 1842.

After high school, Buchanan enrolled at LaGrange College, where he earned a political science degree (with a minor in music) in plans for becoming an entertainment lawyer. “But performance was always pulling me back in,” he says of his draw toward becoming a professional musician. For the last seven years, he has served in rotation as guest artist in residence at CSU’s Schwob School of Music, playing concerts and mentoring students through programs from war-period songs—“lots of Janis Joplin” Buchanan says with a smile in perfect time with the counter-culture icon’s classic “Cry Baby” wailing its way through the coffee house speakers around him—to Beatles songs to a study, selected

by Dr. Matt McCabe, of the music of Music Shoals, Alabama: home to hit records produced with black and white working on songs together. from LocaL

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April 2018

Off Campus Event: Schwob Jazz Combo April 13, 7 - 9 p.m. The Loft. 1032 Broadway, Columbus Lloyd Buchanan and Cubed Roots Friday Night Concert series at the 1000 block of Broadway. April 13, 7 p.m., Uptown Columbus Guest Artist: Francisco Bernier, guitar April 13, 7:30 p.m., Legacy Hall, RiverCenter for the Performing Arts.

900 Broadway Columbus Alabama Avenue at The Taven April 13, 9 p.m. - midnight, The Tavern, 6298 Veterans Parkway

Columbus Community Orchestra To Feature Mlk, Jr. At 50 A concert commemorating the 50th anniversary of the civil rights leader’s assassination. Speakers and vocal soloists will be highlighted. Free. April 9, 7:30 p.m., St. Mark United Methodist Church, 6795 Whitesville Road

AiNt RiGhT at Ben’s Chop House April 14, 8 - 11 p.m., 6780 Veterans Parkway, Columbus CSU: Kaleidoscope The Joyce and Henry Schwob School of Music presents “Kaleidoscope,” an exciting 70-minute, full spectrum musical performance featureng over 200 Schwob music students. Featuring large instrumental and vocal ensembles, chamber music and individual performers, Kaleidoscope offers an electrifying variety of repertoire from classical to jazz, from exuberant to refined. The performance in fast-paced and continuous for a little over an hour. Tickets are available through the RiverCenter box office. April 14, 7:30 - 9 p.m., College of the Arts and CSU, 901 Front Avenue, Columbus

Guest Artist: Stephen Robinson, Guitar April 5, 7:30 p.m., Legacy Hal;, RiverCenter for the Performing Arts, 900 Broadway, Columbus Friday Night Concert: Departure Departure, the Journey tribute band, kicks off 2018’s Friday Night Concert Series. April 6, 7 p.m., 1000 block of Broadway, Columbus

Percussion Ensemble April 15, 4 p.m., Legacy Hall, RiverCenter for the Performing Arts. 900 Broadway Columbus

GP38 at Wild Wing Cafe April 6, 9 p.m., Wild Wing Cafe, 6525 Whittlesey Boulevard, Columbus Money $hot at The Tavern April 6, 9 p.m., The Tavern, 6298 Veterans Parkway, Columbus

Horn Ensemble Concert April 15, 7:30 p.m., Legacy Hall, RiverCenter for the Performing Arts.

900 Broadway Columbus

Yacht Rock Schooner at The Loft April 7, 9 p.m., The Loft, 1032 Broadway, Columbus Mango Strange & Poly Action at Soho April 7, 10 p.m. - 1 a.m., Soho Bar & Grill, 5751 Milgen Road, Columbus

World Voice Day Celebration April 16, 6 p.m., Studio Theatre, RiverCenter for the Performing Arts.

900 Broadway Columbus

The Estate Machinist! / False Tongues / Ginger / Soul Abuse April 7, 7 p.m., The Estate, 1231 Midway Drive, Columbus

Guitar Chamber Recital April 16, 7:30 p.m., Legacy Hall, RiverCenter for the Performing Arts.

900 Broadway Columbus

Oboe Studio Recital Please join us on April 7th at 7:30 pm in Studio Theatre for the students of Dr. Susan Tomkiewicz. April 7, 7:30 p.m., Studio Theatre, RiverCenter for the Performing Arts. 900 Broadway Columbus

Special Event: Music Under The Dome The Schwob School of Music continues with its Music Under The Dome series with a concert on Tuesday, Apr. 17 starting at 5 p.m. with wine and cheese, concert starts at 5:30 p.m. Coca-Cola Space Science Center.

Admission is free but tickets are required. Visit the website to reserve your tickets.

Classic Albums Live: Led Zeppelin II Classic Albums Live performs “Led Zeppelin II,” an album that defined the sound of 70s hard rock—and one of the best selling albums of all time. Note for note, cut for cut. April 7, 7:30 - 10:30 p.m., RiverCenter for the Performing Arts, 900 Broadway, Columbus

Bassoon Studio Recital Students of Dr. Stephanie Patterson perform highlights from the bassoon repertoire. April 18, 7:30 p.m., Legacy Hall, RiverCenter for the Performing Arts, 900 Broadway Columbus

AiNt RiGhT at Wild Wing Cafe April 8, 5 - 8 p.m., 6525 Whittlesey Boulevard, Columbus

7 Stone Riot at Soho April 19, 8 p.m., Soho Bar & Grill, 5751 Milgen Road, Columbus

Schwob Contemporary Ensemble April 8, 4:00 p.m., Studio Theatre, RiverCenter for the Performing Arts.

900 Broadway Columbus

Friday Night Concert Series Come out for River City Horns: Rhythm, Blues & Soul at the 1000 block of Broadway. April 20, 7 p.m., Uptown Columbus

Flute and Guitar Studios Concert April 9, 7:30 p.m., Legacy Hall, RiverCenter for the Performing Arts. 900 Broadway Columbus

Jonboy Story at The Tavern Basement April 20, 9:30 p.m. - midnight, The Tavern, 6298 Veterans Parkway, Columbus Alabama Avenue at Soho April 20, 10:30 p.m., Soho Bar & Grill, 5751 Milgen Road, Columbus

Garrett Pittman and Brittany Avery at Wild Wing Cafe April 10, 5:30 p.m., Wild Wing Cafe, 6525 Whittlesey Boulevard, Columbus

Ricky Gunn at The Tavern April 20, 8:30 p.m. - midnight, The Tavern, 6298 Veterans Parkway, Columbus

Once Around at Soho April 11, 8 p.m., Soho Bar & Grill, 5751 Milgen Road, Columbus

AiNt RiGhT at Poker Run for the Phenix City Board of Realtors April 21, 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., 1906 Crawford Road, Phenix City

Woodwind Chamber Recital April 11, 7:30 p.m., Legacy Hall, RiverCenter for the Performing Arts. 900 Broadway Columbus

River City Records "RECORD STORE DAY" Inaugural Record Store Day event at the new location.

April 21, River City Records, 6201 Veterans Parkway, Columbus

Trumpet Ensemble Concert April 12, 7:30 p.m., Legacy Hall, RiverCenter for the Performing Arts. 900 Broadway Columbus LocaL

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Old 280 Boogie No. 18 This multi-cultural music and arts festival on the grounds of Standard Deluxe Inc features musical performances by Shinyribs, Rev. Sekou, Revel in Dimes, Chris Stalcup and The Grange, The Pine Hill Haints and Marshall Ruffin. Enjoy food and vendors. Family friendly. Bring chairs or blankets. Small coolers are okay at this BYOB event, but no glass bottles. Sorry, no dogs. April 21, 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. (CDT), Standard Deluxe, 1015 Mayberry Avenue, Waverly, Al. Verdi's Requiem Featuring Columbus State University Choral Union, Auburn University Chamber Choir and LaGrange College Choir. April 21, 7:30 - 10 p.m., Columbus Symphony Orchestra, 900 Broadway, Columbus The Altman Moore Project at Outskirts April 21, 9 p.m., Outskirts Sports Bar & Grill, 5736 Veterans Parkway, Columbus Schwob Virtuosi String Ensemble April 22, 4 p.m., Legacy Hall, RiverCenter for the Performing Arts, 900 Broadway Columbus Trombone Ensemble April 22, 7:30 p.m. Legacy Hall, RiverCenter for the Performing Arts, 900 Broadway Columbus Schwob Wind Orchestra April 26, 7:30 p.m., Legacy Hall, RiverCenter for the Performing Arts, 900 Broadway Columbus AiNt RiGhT at Ben's Chop House April 27, 8 - 11 p.m., 6780 Veterans Parkway, Columbus Alabama Avenue at Scruffy Murphy's April 27, 9 p.m. - 1 a.m., Scruffy Murphey’s Irish Pub and Eatery, 1037 Broadway, Columbus Off Campus Event: Schwob Jazz in the Loft April 27, 7 - 9 p.m., The Loft, 1032 Broadway Columbus Tuba and Euphonium Studio Recital Students of Prof. Bernard Flythe perform highlights from the trumpet repertoire. April 28, 2 p.m., Legacy Hall, RiverCenter for the Performing Arts. 900 Broadway Columbus Symphony on the Sand Benefitting the Ida Cason Callaway Foundation, Callaway Resort & Gardens is thrilled to once again host the Columbus Symphony Orchestra performing under the stars on Robin Lake Beach. April 28, 5 - 11 p.m., Callaway Gardens, 17800 US Highway 27, Pine Mountain, Ga. Brittany Avery at Outskirts April 28, 9 p.m., Outskirts Sports Bar & Grill, 5736 Veterans Parkway, Columbus Schwob Philharmonic April 29, 4 p.m., Legacy Hall, RiverCenter for the Performing Arts. 900 Broadway Columbus University Singers April 30, 7:30 p.m., Legacy Hall, RiverCenter for the Performing Arts.

900 Broadway Columbus Hunter Flanagan at Wild Wing Cafe April 30, 5:30 - 8:30 p.m., Wild Wing Cafe, 6525 Whittlesey Boulevard, Columbus Wind Orchestra of St. Luke Methodist Church: Spring Pops Concert May 2, 6 p.m., St. Luke Methodist Church, 1104 Second Avenue, Columbus Lloyd Buchanan and Cubed Roots Friday Night Concert series at the 1000 block of Broadway. April 13, 7 p.m., Uptown Columbus Want to see your event listed here? Email events@thelocalcolumbus.com

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April 2018

of Music, and Bo Bartlett Center present an evening of creative writing and music at the first David Diamond Reading & Recital of the season.

Please join us for a reading by poet John Henry, a creative writing student from CSU, and a piano recital by Elisabeth Tsai from CSU’s Schwob School of Music. March 14, 7:30 p.m., The Bo Bartlett Center, CSU’s River Park Campus

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Boogerville: Born & Raised A Boogerville reunion. Contact Bill Ginn jean.arambula@gmail.com April 14, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m., Lake Oliver Marina, 5501 River Road, Columbus Warm Springs Annual Spring Fling Annual festival over 15 years running. Including craft vendors, food vendors, kids activities, live music, petting zoo and horse rides. Free admission. April 14 & 15, Warm Springs, Ga.

4th Annual Strut the Hooch Parade Strut the Hooch is an annual Spring event sponsored by Uptown Columbus, Inc. It is a parade of absolute silliness! Participants can be individuals, musicians, floats, animals, groups, and unicorns. If you can think it, you can join us. It is a family event however, so keep it modest. Participation is open to the public and On-Line Registration is free starting about two months before the Parade. April 7, 9:30 - 10:30 a.m., Uptown Columbus

5th Annual Honor Project Fundraiser Fundraiser benefits a hospice program called Honor Project, which helps fund final “wishes” for patients. Bike show, raffle, bar-be-que and vendors. April 14, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Chattahoochee Harley-Davidson, 3230 Williams Road, Columbus Carson McCullers Literary Festival A celebration of the creative writing of Georgia high school students.

The event will feature public readings, master classes and student workshops conducted by nationally known writers and poets. Among those scheduled to read are Brad Watson, recent winner of the Harper Lee Awards; Jonathan S.E. Perkins, nationally recognized slam poet champion; and novelist and essayist Melissa Pritchard, whose work has been recognized by the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune and more. April 20 & 21, Bo Bartlett Center, 921 Front Avenue, Columbus

2nd Annual Spring Festival Great vendors, food trucks and activities for the children anchor this store-wide sale. April 7, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., Bluebelle Home Decor and Gifts, 2301 Airport Thruway, Columbus Pine Mountain Days This free event features arts, crafts, homegrown items, children’s games, rides and inflatables. Enjoy live entertainment, pony rides, a petting zoo, pet adoption and microchipping. Of course, you should also come for the delicious food. Best of all, admission is free. April 7, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., downtown Pine Mountain, Ga.

The Purple Ribbon Poker Run Kick Stands Up at 11:00 starting at The Chattahoochee Harley Davidson in Columbus ending at the Phenix City Board Of Realtors in Phenix City with food - music and prizes and a Raffle for a Big Screen TV. All proceeds to benefit the Crisis Center of Russell County. April 21, 11 a.m., Chattahoochee Harley-Davidson, 3230 Williams Road, Columbus

Renters Strike Back Columbus Community Meeting Know your rights! Speak Out! GET ACTION! If you are a tenant of Turman Realty, and you have complaints about Turman Realty not doing their job or making you live in “Horrific” situations, please attend this meeting on April 7th from 4:30 pm to 6 pm at the South Columbus Library Conference Room. April 7, 4:30 - 6 p.m., South Columbus Public Library, 2034 South Lumpkin Road, Columbus

Spring Has Sprung Customer Appreciation Day Come out for a day of fun. Enjoy a free lunch under the tent, snow cones and outside vendors. Shop the amazing booths inside and many special vendors. Sales and raffles. April 21, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., Chipley and Main, 160 North Commerce Avenue, Pine Mountain, Ga.

Meet the Candidates for Mayor & City Council Please join as we engage the candidates on why they should have your vote, how they plan to improve Columbus, and on their strategic plans to address issues concerning our citizens, including crime, funding for law enforcement, development in South Columbus, city finances, and livable wage jobs. April 12, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m., Columbus Public Library, 3000 Macon Road

CSU 2018 Spring Swing Party Columbus State University College of the Arts presents the 3rd annual Spring Swing, benefitting the CSU Dance Minor program. Spring Swing brings indoor/outdoor dancing and dining to a new location where participants can show off their fancy footwork or just enjoy a casual, fun-filled evening. Spring Swing is open to all members of the danceloving public, welcomes all skill levels, cultural backgrounds and ages 16 and up. Enjoy bites and beverages from outstanding vendors, music from The Shimmer Band, which will play everything from classic rock to Frank Sinatra to top radio hits. Of course, couples can participate in dance competitions and compete for the Cougar Champions Dance Cup. Tickets are $10. April 28, 6:30 - 11 p.m., Ranking Livery & Courtyard, 1004 Broadway, Columbus Want to see your event listed here? Email events@thelocalcolumbus.com

Author Appearance: Joseph L. Galloway The legendary war corresponded and co-author of “We Were Soldiers Once… and Young” returns to Columbus as the Chattahoochee Valley Libraries celebrates Fort Benning’s Centennial. Book signing and books available after the presentation. April 12, 7 - 8 p.m., Columbus Public Library, 3000 Macon Road Thursday Night Throwdown & Bike Night Kick-Off Bike night is back in Columbus. Enjoy music, food, giveaways and more.

April 12, 8 p.m. - midnight, 3116 Adams Farm Road, Columbus Rummage Sale to Benefit Voices of the Valley Don’t miss this chance to score deals on these awesome, gently used items. Plus, help your favorite children’s choir perform in England this summer. April 14, 8 a.m., First Presbyterian Church, 1100 1st Avenue, Columbus Hillside's 4th Food, Arts and Music Festival DASH in collaboration with Pure Life Studios presents Hillside’s 4th Food, Arts and Music festival. Mobilizing the strengths of the local area while encouraging a greater sense of community, the festival offers opportunities to hear up and coming bands, grab a bite to eat, learn how to live healthier and even add a new piece of artwork to your collection. April 14, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Hillside Neighborhood, 1301 Garfield Street, LaGrange, Ga. David Diamond Reading & Recital Series CSU’s Carson McCuller’s Center for Writers and Musicians, Schwob School LocaL

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April 2018

Going Green Trees Columbus Preser ves And Grows Our Urban Canopy

by Frank Etheridge

Sometimes a name says it all.

Simple yet profound, Trees Columbus’s mission is to “plant, preserve and protect” the city’s urban tree canopy. Since forming in 2000—in response to city plans to remove 150 trees from Lakebottom Park—the environmental advocacy and awareness organization has planted nearly 15,000 trees and helped enact local legislation critical to making Columbus a sustainable, beautiful community.

“There are obvious reasons why it’s important to have an urban tree canopy,” explains Trees Columbus Executive Director Dorothy McDaniel from the Trees Columbus office on the second floor of the Spencer Environmental Center, which also houses the Nature Conservancy and the Coalition for Sound Growth in the stately, restored 1837 Swift-Kyle House. “Trees clean the air; they clean the water; and they help mitigate the urban heat island, meaning they lower the temperature—through shade and evapotranspiration [trees absorb water in the roots and releases it through leaves]—and help keep us cool in the summer.”

“There are also social and psychological effects,” continues McDaniel, who is joined on the Trees Columbus staff

by Assistant Director Candice Wayman and Paige Swift (membership, special events, fundraising). “We are starting to see studies documenting how urban tree canopy contributes to greater quality of life across the board. We relate better to each other. Trees contribute to mental health and bring crime rates down. People are more likely to shop in areas where there is a tree canopy. When looking at our social spaces downtown, the trees provide an outdoor room. If there were no trees in the median of Broadway, people would not be gathering there.”

The impact of Trees Columbus is obvious, too. The city was persuaded not to cut down 150 trees in Lakebottom Park in 2000. Since then, the group has successfully advocated for the enactment of the commonly called “the trees ordinance” (requiring residential developers to obtain permit from the city arborist to ensure trees are planted during construction) and the “big box” ordinance (requiring developers of big-box retailers to also plant trees sufficient for approval by the city arborist). In addition to countless plantings along neighborhoods, schools and bicycle trails, Trees Columbus has completed such high-visibility projects as the Veterans Parkway streetscape with its planting of trees along the thoroughfare from 13th Street to the Civic Center.

“Trees Columbus provided some basic infrastructure to put Columbus ahead of the curve as far as urban forestry,” says McDaniel, currently at work on a grantfunded study that examines the city’s tree canopy using aerial photography, “and helped integrate trees into city planning in a way a lot of communities have not done yet. In the future, I think we can build on the excitement around the outdoors in Columbus. We have a lot of people coming to town who want to be outside. People who are interested in hiking, cycling and whitewater rafting. They are a perfect fit for our mission and we can provide them opportunities to get involved, have a fun social experi-ence and help build community.”

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April 2018

COLLABORATION

is the key to lifting up

B

eg u n in 2012, Artbeat brings together artists and art organizations from all over the community for three weeks of events designed to “engage, energize, educate and evoke reaction.”

ART in the community

Butch Anthony & R.C. Hagans Now in its seventh year, Artbeat is bigger than ever, with more than 50 affiliated events, which highlight the best Columbus has to offer in art, music, theatre and fun.

Three weeks of events also make a significant economic impact. Peter Bowden, CEO of VisitColumbus, estimates roughly 1,000 visitors spending roughly $50,000, never mind the increased economic activity of Columbus locals.

Rick McKnight, director of education at RiverCenter, who serves on the organizational committee for Artbeat, spoke to us and highlighted just a few of the events that “lift up and connect all of the artistic events in the community.”

“We are a connector,” McKnight says, “the largest group of arts organizations that come together for art itself, and I think that’s what makes [Artbeat] really spectacular.”

ART WALK, on April 6, runs all along Front Avenue. Guests will visit the new Bo George Goddard Barlett Center, a distinguished educational destination with programming for students, scholars, artists, collectors and anyone seeking to learn more about the power of art. In the Corn Center, guests can see the astonishing work of CSU art students. At the WC Bradley Museum, guests will encounter the works of Bruno Zupan, the Slovenian-born artist who fled to Paris in 1962, landing in the United States in 1964, soon after becoming a US citizen. Zupan’s work has been celebrated in more than 150 one man shows all over the world, and can be found in prestigious collections on three continents. At the Frank Brown Education Center, canvases from local middle school students will be on display, evidence of the artistic flourishing among the community’s youth. All along the walk, guests will enjoy music and food, and after the tour, they are encouraged to enjoy larger Uptown Columbus, as the event coincides with LocaL

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Garry Pound the year’s inaugural First Friday Concert on Broadway.

On Saturday, April 7, ART IS FOR EVERYONE is a family-centered celebration all around the Riverwalk and Uptown Columbus. The event kicks off with Strut the Hooch Parade, a show-your-silly-side amble around Uptown that defines kooky and fun in Columbus. At The Springer Opera House, enjoy a ‘make it, take it’ ongoing art workshop, where kids of all ages can get creative and take home their work, bringing home a little of the Artbeat vibe. Spark Art will be on hand for more fun projects, there will be puppetry and a puppet parade, and another chance for kids to make art in the Frank Brown Center with the CSU Education and Art departments.

Speaking of STRUT THE HOOCH, we caught

up with parade founder and grand master Captain Hooch (aka Steve Scott). This year’s parade will feature Shrine clowns, mascots, super heroes, the Muscogee Roller Girls, whitewater guides, Springer academy kids and belly dancers. New this year to the parade is an Army brass band, decorated golf carts, horses and a Mardi Gras float.

For Captain Hooch, the parade is all about creating a space where “people can celebrate their differences and be good to each other for an hour.” He delivers this line with a characteristic grin and says, “I want to weave the personality of the people into the essence of downtown.” With Strut the Hooch, where all are truly welcome to have a goofy good time, Captain Hooch certainly leads the LocaL

funniest, most fun parade around.

A special theatre experience invites guests to the historic Lion House on April 13 and 14.

BEHIND CLOSED DOORS brings guests through various rooms of the historic home for ten minute plays by local playwrights tailored to the environments. Admission is limited due to space, but the after show cocktail party on the Lion House grounds promises to be a social mingle to remember. Also on the 14th, be sure to visit the Phenix City side of the pedestrian bridge for the groundbreaking ceremony of the PHENIX CITY ART PARK, which will feature statuary and host art events throughout the year.

Artbeat also completes a significant three-year project in 2018. Rick McKnight is excited to announce the completion of the Artbeat coloring books. The books feature line drawing replications of various Artbeat installations, and make a perfect gift for artists of all ages.

To unite all of these organizations and events under the umbrella of Artbeat is no small feat, and McKnight stressed the vital role played by so many in the community. The team at Uptown, Inc, including Becca Zajac and Haley Greene, have been instrumental in promoting this year’s events. Captain Hooch pointed out just how many of the events and projects have been spearheaded by a single person or small team, not only his parade but also such projects as Spark Art, which is also responsible for the wildly popular Columbus Rocks movement.

Artbeat runs for 22 days in April, and offers events for all ages. All Artbeatrelated events in our calendar been marked Najee Dorsey have with a special button, but you can find the complete listing of events and more information at artbeatcolumbus.org.

By Tom Ingram

Christopher Fennell 19

Duke Oursler

Kaitlyn Underwood April 2018

The goal is to bring together the student body and Columbus community as we run the 4.97 miles from Main Campus to Riverpark Campus. April 28, 8 a.m., baseball fields at Main Campus, 4225 University Avenue, Columbus Pasaquan Meditation Retreat Under the April Full Moon With exclusive access to the 7-acre visionary art site, this retreat is 16 hours to marvel, meditate and marinate in the magic of Pasaquan.

Designed for artists of all kinds, guests will receive a private tour, participate in an artist talk with local artist Sven Grady, and gather around the sacred sand circle for guided meditation. Come camp under the full moon at Pasaquan. Visit http://leahtioxon.com/pasaquan/ for information and registration. April 28 & 29, 5 p.m Saturday - 9 a.m.

Sunday, Pasaquan, 238 Eddie Martin Road, Buena Vista, Ga.

2nd Annual Outrun Hunger 5K & Fun Run Benefitting Feeding the Valley Food Bank, this event features a flat course for all skill levels and ages. The race will be chip-timed. Activities and fun for the whole family. Registration is at feedingthevalley5k. com April 7, 8 a.m., Feeding the Valley Food Bank, 6744 Flat Rock Road, Midland, Ga.

Urban Dharma Georgia A Buddhist meditation community forming in the heart of the Chattahoochee Valley. Affiliated with Urban Dharma North Carolina and the Drikung Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. First Sunday of every month beginning May 6. Free and open to the public. For more information, visit urbandharmageorgia.org or email contact@ urbandharmageorgia.org. May 6, 1 - 2 p.m., Art of Yoga, 627 Second Avenue, Columbus Want to see your event listed here? Email events@thelocalcolumbus.com

Indivisible Tours White Oak Pastures Please join Indivisible Columbus Georgia as we learn more about what is possible in sustainable and humane farming. After, we’ll enjoy a catered meal on the farm. This will be a walking tour, so please wear comfortable clothing. You may also want to bring a cooler to bring their products home with you. Meet at the general store prior to 11 a.m. April 7, 10:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Church Street, Bluffton, Ga. Beekeeping Basics Get the buzz on these important pollinators from our local Master Beekeeper, Bob Jones. He will review bee basics, beekeeping fundamentals, and resources. Event will be held at the Large Group Camp Shelter near the horse stables. $10. Pre-register and Pre-pay. April 7, 1 - 2 p.m., Franklin D. Roosevelt State PArk, 2970 GA Highway 190, Pine Mountain, Ga. Paddle South This celebration of the best paddling location in the south returns to Columbus on April 14 and 15 at the Eagle & Phenix water tower.

The two day event consists of the 2018 USA Freestyle Kayak National Championships, and the Omaha Brewing Paddle Party in the Power House overlooking the Chattahoochee River. April 14 & 15, Uptown Columbus, 25 West 10th Street, Columbus Earth Day 2018 River Clean Up Two river cleanups for Earth Day Weekend. Bring work gloves, water in refillable bottle, clothes to get dirty in and a passion for keeping our beautiful watershed clean. Trash bags and latex gloves provided. April 21 & 22, 8 a.m. - noon, Outside World, 1025 Broadway, Columbus Archaeology Hike in the Gardens Come hike in a beautiful area with local archaeologists as your guides and discover the collapsed ruins and abandoned artifacts of johnpyle.com old farm houses. This hike will take a scenic route through the forest with century old trees and babbling brooks. This easy, one mile hike is suitable for ages 12 and older. Please wear sturdy walking shoes and bring drinking water and insect repellant. April 21, 9:30 11:30 a.m., Callaway Gardens, 17800 US Highway 27, Pine Mountain, Ga. Cascade Falls Group Hike Four mile hike around Cascade Falls. Bring a lunch for a break at the Falls. Meet at the WJSP Tower parking area. Event is free, but please email ahead at michele@ironbraidadventures.com April 21, 10:30 a.m. - 1 p.m., Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park, Pine Mountain, Ga. Party for the Planet Join DJs for 60s to present dance music and a campfire for roasting marshmallows. Earth Day trivia games and prizes will be had. Meet at Stone Amphitheater next to the Park Office. $5 ages 4 & up, and don’t forget your $5 parking pass. April 21, 7 - 8 p.m., Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park, 2970 GA Highway 190, Pine Mountain, Ga. World Tai Chi and Qigong Day 2018: One World, One Breath Each year on the last Saturday of April a global health and healing event takes place across the planet. Learn about these centuries-old health practices that have been embraced by millions worldwide. April 28, 10 a.m., 1000 block of Broadway, Columbus Campus 2 Campus 8K Race This first-ever race hosted by the Campus Recreation Department is a running experience for CSU students and the surrounding community.

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CORPSE REVIVER # 2

¾ oz St George gin ¾ oz fresh lemon juice ¾ oz orange liqueur ¾ oz Cocchi Americano

1 dash La Muse Verte absinthe One variation calls for the absinthe to be added to a chilled glass which is swirled around to coat the inside of the glass with absinthe. The other ingredients are added to an ice filled cocktail shaker, blended, and strained into the glass.

ABSINTHE

The Legendary Distillation Has A Rich History And A Surprising Versatility

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bsinthe is a distilled spirit that originated in Switzerland as a medicinal compound. It became popular as an alcoholic drink in France in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, especially among the artists and writers of Paris.

Absinthe has incorrectly been portrayed as hallucinogenic, psychoactive, and highly addictive. The chemical compound thujone, a component of grand wormwood, is responsible for this misconception. It is present only in trace amounts and certainly not in a high enough concentration to have much of an effect. The high alcohol content (absinthe ranges from 90148 proof) is probably more to blame for erratic behavior than the thujone. Because of it’s bad rap, by 1915 absinthe had been banned in the United States and in much of Europe, including France, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium and Austria-Hungary.In the 1990’s the European Union adopted modern food and beverage laws and production of absinthe was resumed. By the early 21st century, nearly 200 brands of absinthe were being produced in a dozen countries.

Absinthe is traditionally prepared from a distillation of neutral alcohol, various herbs, spices, and water. Traditional absinthes were redistilled from a white grape spirit. The principal botanicals are grande wormwood, green anise, and florence fennel, often referred to as “the holy trinity.” Many other herbs may also be used, including petite wormwood, hyssop, melissa, star anise, angelica, peppermint, coriander and veronica. The characteristic green color of absinthe is achieved by the extraction of chlorophyll from the plants during the secondary maceration in which the herbs are steeped in the distillate. The role of chlorophyll in absinthe can be compared to the role of tannins in red wine or brown liquors. Part of the bad press from absinthe, prior to the early 20th century ban, may have come from the use of copper salts (a toxic compound), in place of natural botanicals, to give an inferior absinthe the characteristic green tint.

Absinthe is typically enjoyed using the “French method.” This method involves the use of a specially designed spoon, a sugar cube, absinthe, and iced water. The sugar cube is placed on the spoon which is then placed over a glass containing a measure of absinthe. The water is poured over the sugar cube to mix with the water and absinthe. The typical final preparation should contain 1 part absinthe and 3-5 parts water. As the spirits are diluted by the addition of the chilled water, the drink becomes cloudy, and a perfume of herbal aromas and flavors are released.

Absinthe, in addition to being enjoyed in this traditional method, may also be enjoyed in a number of cocktails.

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ABSINTHE FRAPPE 1 ½ oz Vieux Carre Absinthe ¼ oz simple syrup 2 oz club soda 6 fresh mint leaves Muddle the mint leaves in shaker. Add absinthe, simple syrup and ice. Shake vigorously for 10-20 seconds then strain into an ice filled Collins glass. Top with club soda. Garnish with mint leaves if desired.

SAZERAC VARIATION

Absinthe One sugar cube 3 dashes Fee Brothers Grapefruit bitters 2 dashes Fee Brothers Old Fashioned Bitters 2 oz High West Double Rye lemon peel for garnish Rinse a chilled rocks glass with absinthe. In a mixing glass, muddle the sugar cube and bitters. Add rye whiskey, fill with ice and stir.

Strain into glass. Twist the lemon peel slice over the surface of the cocktail then discard.

Craft Beer means to bring these two artisan worlds together in one epic event. For the second annual event, we will be featuring 18 Georgia breweries with three to four different beers from each. April 7, 2 - 6 p.m., Downtown Americus, 110 North Hampton Street, Americus, Ga. SUDS=StartUp Drinks for Entrepreneurs Social drinking club with a StartUp problem. We are a group of creative minds who come together to socialize and develop entrepreneurship networks.

We have fun, build relationships and change the world one drink at a time! April 10, 5:30 - 10:30 p.m., Blu Crabs, 1205 1st Avenue, Columbus Farm to Tableaux Join us as we bring art and history to life at our new fundraising event. Sample culinary creations sourced from local farms, delight your taste buds with premium wine and cocktails, and experience living pictures as actors and models pose for tableaux vivant representing works from the Museum’s collection.A true feast for the senses! April 14, 6 - 9 p.m., The Columbus Museum, 1251 Wynnton Road Taste of the Town Junior Service League of LaGrange is hosting Group County’s first annual Taste of the Town, a partnership with local resterants and food vendors. No tickets needed; admission is free.

April 21, 5 - 10 p.m., Wild Leap Brewing Co., 308 Main Street, LaGrange, Ga. 4th Annual Taste of Richland & Market Visit the distillery to sip, savor, sample and buy fine foods, craft beers, local wines and artisan spirits cultivated and crafted in south Georgia. April 22, 2 - 5 p.m., Richland Rum, 1406 Newcastle Street, Brunswick, Ga. Want to see your event listed here?

Email events@thelocalcolumbus.com

b y R i c h a r d E dw a r d s ,

R i c h a r d i s M a r k e t i n g M a n a g e r a t Up t o wn Wine and Spirits

5th Annual Wine Tasting Mingle The 5th Annual Wine Tasting Mingle, to benefit the Homeless Resource Network, will be held Friday, April 6, 2018 from 6-8. The event tickets are $40 and include wine samples all evening, food, music, access to our extensive silent auction, and a commemorative wine glass to take home at the end of the night. On April 6th, tickets can be purchased at the door for $50. April 6, 6 - 9 p.m., The Loft, 1032 Broadway, Columbus Americus Hot Glass Craft Beer Festival Tapping Americus’ rich history of artisan glass blowing and combining it with Georgia’s innovative craft brewing culture, Hot Glass 22

April 2018

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