The LocaL, January 2018

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January 2018

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January 2018

STUFF TO READ PAWS - The PUUURRFECT Companion

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SCOTT PHILLIPS KNOWS ONE THING

Columbus Needs To Break Into The Film Business

Music Spotlight

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Larry Mitchell

5 TOP 5 ANYTIME FITNESS

Start Your New Years Fitness Resolution Off Right

THE LION HOUSE

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NEW YEAR, NEW YOU?

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the LocaL Cocktail Club

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TASTFULL VAPES How To Optimize Your New Year’s Health Resolution

Letter from the Editor

HAPPY NEW YEAR! ost of us approach the New Year in celebration. Full of optimism, we adopt mantras, like ‘new year, new me.’ Looking back on our mistakes, failures and missed opportunities of the outgoing, we promise to enter the incoming year with eyes and arms open to whatever good is on our horizon.

Sure, I have made mistakes this past year—foul-ups galore. But, as I cast my retrospective gaze on the past 365 days, I also see successes. With a team of hardworking, positive people, and the support of an eager community, we launched a magazine that promotes art and philanthropy. I am proud of this publication and grateful for our community’s support. Still, as with all endeavors, we have room to grow. Growth, of course, takes time, is incremental.

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Slowly but surely we strive to do a little better each day.

Fewer than half of Americans commit to a New Years Resolution, and of those who do, almost none follow through for the full year. Regular gym-goers know this; for the next few months, resolutioners will queue for exercise machines, and the lines will dwindle with each passing week.

Resolutions are hard, especially when we make radical commitments. As Richard Brown explains on page 19, goals implemented incrementally are the ones most likely to bare fruit. Slowly but surely. Still, resolutions persist; the gym is full of optimists.

I have always been among the 42 percent of Americans who never make a resolution. I’m a single parent trying to build a business; I just want to keep up with the laundry. Yet I admire resolutioners. Their optimism inspires. As this magazine was founded in a mood of optimism, as we use this space and our articles to advance the common good, I find myself grappling with my cynical attitude toward New Years resolutions and my optimistic comportment toward my community. We strive to improve ourselves for our own sake and for the sake of those around us.

I’m going to join the 17 percent of Americans who infrequently make a resolution, and give New Years resolutions a whirl. New year, new me.

So I’ll become a vegetarian.

Let me temper this resolution a bit. I may be going whole hog, but I’m not a radical. For the month of January, without sacrificing my usual patronage of local businesses (except Burt’s Butcher Shoppe, an excellent place I will dearly miss), I will eschew pork, chicken, beef and fish. If it was sentient, I’ll not eat it, however delicious the dish.

This is not where I proselytize for vegetarianism.

Truthfully, I don’t have strong feelings either way, but I am curious. I want to conduct an experiment this January. I want to know if I will lose weight, have more energy. I am also curious about being a vegetarian in Columbus. I know many vegetarians who seem satisfied with their choice, but I want to know by my own experience. I want to rework my weekly menu and grocery shop. And I really want to go out with friends and explore the vegetarian options at our many excellent local restaurants.

Whether or not I will be a better person at the end of the month for having been a vegetarian, I cannot predict, but I do imagine that just by making the commitment, by selecting a manageable goal and sticking to it, I will have improved myself.

In February, I will let you know the outcome of my New Years resolution adventure. In the meantime, if you’re working on a New Years resolution, good luck. If you’re not, I understand; we all have laundry to keep up with..

Thank you for reading, Tom Ingram Editor 3

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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

Scott Phillips Richard Brown Richard F. Edwards Frank Etheridge Wade Allen Bobbi Yeo Matt Szabo January 2018

Open Studio, The Columbus Museum

Get creative in the New Year and make a masterpiece.

Participants will utilize oil pastels as they create works drawing inspiration from Burgoyne Diller’s Untitled (Wall Construction). After visiting the art-making station, visitors will have the opportunity to complete a gallery scavenger hunt. Jan. 6, 10 a.m. - noon, The Columbus Museum, 1251 Wynnton Road, Columbus Look! At Lunchtime Look! is a collaborative viewing exercise and dialogue centered around works of art from the museum’s permanent collection.

Jonathan Frederick Walz, Director of Curatorial Affairs & Curator of American Art will feature discussions every second Tuesday. Each month a new project will be explored. This week’s object is Richard Emil Miller, La Toilette, c. 1914. Jan. 9, 12:15 – 12:30 p.m., The Columbus Museum, 1251 Wynnton Road, Columbus Artist Roundtable Join The Columbus Museum as we engage with two nationally-known artists, who will discuss their on-site temporary projects at the Museum. Director of Curatorial Affairs, Jonathan Frederick Walz, will interview artists linn meyers, whose monumental wall drawing will be on view Jan. 13, and Jonathan VanDyke, whose quilt-based performance piece will take place in April, with time for questions from the public. A reception will follow the lecture. The event is free, but seating is limited and offered on a first come, first served basis. Jan. 11, 6 – 8 p.m., The Columbus Library, 1251 Wynnton Road, Columbus

Parent and Child Class: Self Portrait

Participants in this hands-on art making class will discover fun and fabulous facts about self-portraits while using paint and a variety of mixed media to create their own expressive work on canvas that will become their own sensational selfie. Jan. 13, 10 a.m. - noon, The Columbus Museum, 1251 Wynnton Road, Columbus Gallery Opening, Leigh & Paige Fine Art Leigh & Paige Fine Art celebrate their gallery opening on February 1. Feb. 1, noon – 3 p.m., 1309 Wildwood Avenue, Columbus YAP Kickoff Experience art and history in new ways as Youth Art Patrons kicks off a new year. From live art demonstrations to music, dance and culinary art, every turn of the night will bring something new to broaden the scope of what art is and can be. RSVP by Jan. 26; contact Sarah Tinsley at stinsley@ columbusmuseum.com or (706) 748-2562 ext. 542. Feb. 2, 6 – 8 p.m., Young Art Patrons, 1251 Wynnton Road, Columbus Want to see your event listed here? Email editor@thelocalcolumbus.com

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PAWS HU M AN E

The PUUURRFECT Companion

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’m a shameless dog person but I really do love cats too. At PAWS Humane my coworkers and I share our space with an office cat named Bjorn.

This little guy manages to charm his way into the hearts of everyone he meets. He is a special needs kitty with a bad ticker who we will love forever and will care for as long as he graces our presence.

As cat fanciers already known these astonishing animals possess an array of super powers. With 200 million scent receptors in their nasal cavities cats are hard to beat when it comes to sense of smell. A few dog breeds, such as bloodhounds, can top that but in most cases the average cat wins hands down against the average dog.

Our feline friends have superior night vision. They also can hear high pitched sounds up to 1.6 octaves above humans and 1 octave above dogs.

A cat can jump as high as seven times her own height from a stand still.

She can also survive a fall of several stories.

Cats are remarkable creatures and should not be underestimated. Yet we do. We adopt them and place them in our homes under lock and key so they will be safe. Those who don’t, expose them to a million forms of calamity, most notably being hit by a car and exposure to feline leukemia, which top the list.

There is a growing movement of cat lovers that are pushing the envelope with their courageous, talented and intelligent pets. “Living Nine Lives to the Fullest, Adventure Cats”, by Laura J. Moss, greatly expands the realm of possibility for kitties. She opens the book with a story about a cat she cared for as a volunteer at her local humane society. She was asked to snap a harness on an orange tabby and take him for a walk.

At first she balked at the idea of walking a cat thinking he would not tolerate the indignity of a harness and leash. The ginger, on the other hand was ready to go, leading her on a trek through a pet store, where he was awaiting adoption, and straight to the cat food isle.

The premise of the book is that cats love adventure but it generally is not safe to let them out of the house unsupervised. So, why not take them along when you go for a walk around the block. How about a hike in the mountains? How about surfing? Nanakuli, the Hawaiian surfer cat, is one of the stories highlighted in the book. We assume cats hate water but that isn’t necessarily always the case.

If this intrigues you be sure to check out Moss’ book. It is full of ideas about activities you might try with your cat, training tips, and helpful hints. The information in the book has been distilled from the real life experience of the cats themselves, as told through their human companions.

Cats are easy keepers. If you think a dog is a little too much for you then maybe a cat is just the pet to suit your lifestyle. In fact a cat may be the “purrfect” companion.

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.

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 fiveminute 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

Riverdance: 20th Anniversary World Tour

The international Irish dance phenomenon is back by popular demand. Marking this eagerly-awaited return to stages across North America, the anniversary production features new costumes, new lighting, new projections and the addition of a brand new number, “Anna Livia,” featuring the female members of the Irish dance group in an acapella hard-show number. Make your reservation through the RiverCenter box offive at (706) 256-3612. Jan. 11, 7:30 – 10:30 p.m., RiverCenter for the Performing Arts, 900 Broadway, Columbus

Pablo Francisco!

Pablo Francisco, one of the most popular touring comedians in the world, will rock the house with peals of laughter at The Loft. Francisco has earned a reputation for his unique talent to weave together his arsenal of off-the-wall characters and spot-on impressions. Francisco draws his audience into his vivid imagination and takes them on a wild ride as they experience his spontaneous outbursts, clever insights and some of the funniest rapid fire comedy ever unleashed.

Jan. 11, 8 – 10:30 p.m., The Loft, 1032 Broadway, Columbus

The State Theatre Gala: Celebrating 30 Years with Paul Pierce

Featuring guest artist, “The King of Hollywood Character Actors,” Stephen Tobolowsky. From the glad-handing Ned Ryerson in Groundhog Day to iconic roles in Spaceballs, Basic Instinct, Bird on a Wire, Memento, Freaky Friday, Deadwood, The Goldbergs, Californiacation and Silicon Valley, Tobolowsky has put his indelible mark on over 100 Hollywood movies and TV series. He is a masterful story-teller with an acclaimed podcast called The Tobolowski Files, and two best-selling books. Special appearances

by Debbie Anderson, Pubbles Pity Party and more. For more information, call the box office at (706) 327-3688. Jan. 13, 6 – 9:30 p.m., Springer Opera House, 103 10th Street, Columbus

A2I Presents: Comedy Night at The Loft

Join Access 2 Independence for a comedy night you won’t want to miss, featuring comedian Jerry Farber. $30 for general admission; VIP packages available. Jan. 18, 7 – 8:30 p.m., The Loft, 1032 Broadway, Columbus

Way Down Film Society 2018 Kick Off

The Way Down Film Society will kick off its New Year of programming on Wed., Jan 17 at 6 p.m. In Room 213 at Troy University-Phenix City.

Bring the food and drink of your choice, watch a film and join in the post-screening discussion. For more information, email Scott Phillips at waydownfilmsociety@gmail.com Jan. 17, 6 p.m., Room 213 at Troy University-Phenix City, 1510 Whitewater Way, Phenix City, Al.

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 LocaL

Want to see your event listed here? Email editor@thelocalcolumbus.com 5

January 2018

Isn’t this the responsibility of the Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau? Simply put: NO. They have been given the responsibility to serve as our local film commission, but they have neither the time nor the expertise to do so effectively.

That is in no way a “knock” on Peter Bowden and his staff.

Their primary mandate is to fill the hotels and restaurants in Columbus with business people attending corporate functions and tourists flocking to local events. That is their full-time job, and they labor under the same personnel and budget constraints as the other branches of our city government.

Consequently, marketing our city to the film industry will, at best, be a part-time endeavor if it remains the CCVB’s responsibility.

How much is this going to cost and how will we pay for it?

In business, spending money with the hope of making money is the name of the game. In local government, it’s not very popular.

To hire a qualified candidate, cover office overhead and pay for travel to film festivals and networking/ marketing opportunities around the country would run around $ 125,000.00 per year. Looking to the government to fund this position may be a pipedream. However, there are businesses located in Columbus that are committed to the growth of our community. Grant money is available for a variety of artistic causes. We should be able to privately raise the funds needed to create this position with the hope that it would become self-sustaining as the economic impact of the film industry begins to be felt here.

How can you get involved? During the recent On the Table initiative that sponsored small-group discussions throughout our community, about twenty people met to discuss the state of the film industry in Columbus. At our follow-up meeting in December, that group had nearly doubled in size. If you would like your voice to be heard or you have expertise you would like to lend to the cause, contact me at waydownfilmsociety@gmail.com, and I will add you to the email list for our upcoming meetings.

Scott Phillips knows one thing

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C o l um b us n e e d s to b r e a k i n to th e f il m bus ine s s

t’s a New Year, and we all know what that means – resolutions.

We all pledge to smoke less, drink less, eat better, go to the gym more. It’s a time for bringing priorities into focus. But, we tend to make one mistake when it comes to New Year’s resolutions: we limit them to ourselves, to our personal growth. We should be making resolutions for our city. Consider it a community To-Do list for 2018.

My New Year’s resolution for Columbus is simple: hire a fulltime film commissioner to bring the motion picture industry to our city in a more substantial way.

According to Governor Nathan Deal, there were 320 film and television productions in Georgia in 2017 that resulted in $ 2.7 billion in direct spending in our state. The only way an appreciable portion of that revenue is going to find its way to our city is if we hire a qualified individual whose sole responsibility is pursuing those dollars on our behalf.

What does a film commissioner do? A local film commissioner markets our city to the thriving film industry that is spilling out of Atlanta and slowly, but surely, finding its way to other Georgia communities. I, Tonya, the new award-winning drama starring Margot Robbie as infamous figure skater Tonya Harding, filmed many of its ice skating sequences in Macon. The Haunting of Hill House, a new Netflix horror series starring Timothy Hutton, recently shot a number of scenes in LaGrange. A full-time film commissioner would be tasked with bringing these types of productions (and all the local jobs and revenue they generate) to Columbus on a regular basis.

Can’t we find a volunteer to serve as our local film commissioner?

Like Liam Neeson in the Taken films, a film commissioner needs to have a special set of skills.

It’s not enough to simply like movies. It’s not enough to have beginner-level knowledge of film production. Film industry professionals can smell an amateur from a mile away. An inexperienced local film commissioner means wasted time for a film production, and that means added expense that the filmmakers can avoid by simply going elsewhere.

It’s all about economics. There’s no time for a film commissioner to learn everything on the job. From Day One, a film commissioner needs to understand the financing of film productions, the logistics of shooting on location and the equipment required by a given project along with having a familiarity with local acting talent and available crew members. It is highly unlikely that someone from our community will have this extensive skill set AND be willing to put it to use free of charge.

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I appreciate my new editor giving me a soapbox to preach from for my very first column for this magazine. I typically review films and interview the people who make them, but this topic is too important to ignore any longer. When it comes to hiring a full-time film commissioner, we can’t afford to lose any more momentum. If we do, we’ll spend the next decade thinking about what might have been.

Sc o t t Ph illips is a me mb e r o f th e G e o r g i a Fi l m C r i ti c s A s s o c i a ti o n ( G A FC A ) a n d s e r v e s a s t h e C o n t e n t P r o g r a m m e r f o r t h e Wa y D o w n F i l m F e s t i v a l h e l d a t t h e Spr ing e r O pe r a H o u s e e ac h f a l l .

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The Arbitrary / Psycho Hill / Foolery at The Estate

Visit Columbus’s only do-it-yourself music venue for live music. $8. Jan. 4, 7 – 10 p.m., The Estate, 1231 Midway Drive, Columbus

Alabama Avenue at Soho

Playing southern rock, classic country and fun party songs, Alabama Avenue returns to one of Columbus’s favorite music venues. Jan. 6, 10:30 p.m. - 1:45 a.m., Soho Bar & Grill, 5751 Milgen Road, Columbus

Post Nothing / Crushed!? / Dying Whale / Cenbe at The Estate

Visit Columbus’s only do-it-yourself music venue for live music.

Post Nothing and Crushed!? are visiting all the way from California, and local fave Dying Whale are joining them for a high-energy hardcore punk show. $5. Jan 9, 7 – 10 p.m., The Estate, 1231 Midway Drive, Columbus

Open mic with Cenbe at The Estate

Join local group Cenbe for an open mic night at Columbus’s only do-it-yourself music venue. Jan. 11, 7 p.m., The Estate, 1231 Midway Drive, Columbus

Bobby Amaru, lead singer of Saliva

Lead singer of top-charting rock band Saliva comes to Soho, one of the area’s favorite and longest-operating bars and music venues. Jan. 17, 10 p.m. - 1 a.m., Soho Bar & Grill, 5751 Milgen Road, Columbus

Open Mic with Good Memories With Bad Friends

Join Good Memories With Bad Friends for an open mic night at Columbus’s only do-it-yourself music venue. Jan. 18, 7 p.m., The Estate, 1231 Midway Drive, Columbus

Scars & Stripes / 4 Daze Dead Dead Reckoning

Visit Columbus’s only do-it-yourself music venue for live music. $5. Jan. 19, 7 – 10 p.m., The Estate, 1231 Midway Drive, Columbus

Almost Kings at Outlaws Saloon

Almost Kings return to Outlaws Saloon for a Friday night you won’t want to miss. Jan. 19, 9 p.m., Outlaws Saloon, 6499 Veterans Parkway, Columbus

Fascination Tour

The Big Lonesome returns to Soho to celebrate their latest release, Fascination. Jan. 24, 9 p.m., Soho Bar & Grill, 5751 Milgen Road, Columbus

Old Time Roots Music at the Barn at Lake Pines

Join local musicians for an afternoon of music. Bring your acoustic instruments, or just kick back and listen. No pets or alcohol. Jam session is 4 – 6 p.m. Call for more information,

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(706) 315-6500 Jan. 28, 3 p.m., the Barn at Lake Pines, 6404 Garret Road, Midland, Ga.

Classic Albums Live: Creedence Clearwater Revival

Classic Albums Live brings back the 20 greatest hits ever performed by CCR, live, note for note, cut for cut. For more information, tickets and pre-show, three-course dinner details, call the RiverCenter box office at (706) 256-3612. Feb. 1, 7:30 – 10:30 p.m., RiverCenter for the Performing Arts, Columbus

Jacks River Band at Soho

Larry Mitchell Lives The Life Of World-Class Musician, Devoted Son

Known for their driving blues-rock style and extended improvised jams, Jacks River Band performs with an undeniable, contagious energy. Feb. 2, 9 p.m. - midnight, Soho Bar & Grill, 5751 Milgen Road, Columbus

Larry Mitchell is a traveling man.

by Frank Etheridge

Reached by phone in mid-December, Mitchell was on the road in Virginia. In this week, sandwiched between his 53rd birthday and Christmas, Grammy-winning guitar wizard Mitchell had played a gig with jazzman Stanley Jordan in New Jersey, composed a score for a theatre production directed by Jim Henson’s daughter, Heather, outside of Washington, D.C., before teaching music to special-needs children in Virginia. Perhaps best known for his soaring leads and nasty riffs that propel ‘80s-rock hit songs “The Stroke” and “Lonely Is the Night” by Billy Squire, the New York City native (born in Brooklyn, raised in Queens) would move to San Diego and spend a decade in Santa Fe, New Mexico before settling in Opelika in 2012, to be with his mom.

“Most of my family moved from the South to New York,” Mitchell explains of a common Jim Crow-era migration. “My grandmother’s generation started moving back to the South in the early ‘90s and now my generation is, too. It’s been cool and interesting living in the South. Columbus has been revitalized—I love seeing all the people packed on the closed-off streets for concerts.

Downtown Opelika has come alive since I’ve been here. Watching a music community come together and happen, it’s awesome.”

Considering his unassuming demeanor and fact that he hails from far outside the Chattahoochee Valley, it’s likely that most in the audience lucky enough to catch Mitchell play in area music venues aren’t aware of his impeccable musical resume.

“I was Mr. Rock and Roll in my New York City days,” Mitchell says, laughing as he describes the cover of his 1990 self-titled debut album, featuring him in signature black cowboy hat, zebraLocaL

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print suit and double-neck six-string electric guitar. He followed his early success as a player by becoming a producer and engineer, for which he’s won 26 awards—including a Grammy in 2008 for his work on an album by Native American flautist Robert Mirabal (recording under the name Johnny Whitehorse), with Mitchell’s playing on drums, guitar and didgeridoo (!) accenting Mirabal’s flute to fantastic effect.

“I’m an all-in-one producer,” says Mitchell, who maintains a home studio in Opelika with an array of digital and analog tools. “Playing or programming drums, writing bass lines, electric and acoustic guitars, keyboards— whatever it takes to make the record work.”

Even with all the acclaim for his studio work, Mitchell maintains a busy touring schedule as a performer. “I love gigging,” he says. “I had ball at the show with Stanley Jordan—it was absolutely great. When I’m home, I get up and play sometimes at Eighth and Rail in Opelika, or head to Columbus to the Loft for Tim O’Brien’s jam—I’ll go in there and have a blast playing.”

“It’s not only extremely fun but it’s a huge compliment to have a world-class musician come play with us,” O’Brien tells The LocaL. “There’s no rehearsals, so you never know what’s going to happen. We improvise a lot and Larry adds his personality to the music with these instrumental soundscapes he creates.”

“I’m just doing what I love to do,” Mitchell says. “I’m not sure what a successful career in music is, but I get to play. I get to play as a sideman; I get to play as a leader. I get to write and produce music with cool artists.

I teach a little bit. It’s all fun.”

Mitchell has built upon his early “Mr. Rock and Roll” stature with a succession of eight all-instrumental albums on both electric and acoustic—the tone on which he expertly expands with a magnet-based amplification that allows for typically electrified effects such as reverb and delay. A mature depth in his craft is found on his 2016 release, Traveler, highlighted the tender, hauntingly melodic tune, “Unforgotten.” That song title came after a Columbus friend visited his Opelika studio with a rare PRS (Paul Reed Smith) guitar that belonged to her late father, who owned a music store. Playing solos over music already composed in his mind, Mitchell finished to find his friend emotional over the experience. “My dad, he’s not forgotten,” Mitchell recalls his friend saying at that point.”

Having moved to Alabama to help his mom immediately after his stepfather’s death, Mitchell is all too aware of the cycle of life. But his view is shaped by his life in music. “As we get older, we start to lose friends and family,” he says. “It’s just a part of life, unfortunately. I have a number of songs inspired by remembering friends and family. Working with Native American musicians, traveling around the country to their different festivals, I’ve learned how the different tribes handle the passing of a loved one. It’s more of a celebration of their life, as opposed to a super sad funeral.”

This winter, Mitchell will head to Nashville to play “an insane party,” teach guitar in Palm Springs, California at workshops organized by the incredible Steve Vai, work with austic kids in Cleveland, tour the Northeast and teach university-level master classes on guitar and production in Maryland.

And after all that?

“I’ll head home for a little bit and then do it all over again,” he says. By Frank Etheridge LocaL

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S a r a h Ti n s l e y i s a graduat e of Columbus S tate University. Native of A t l a n ta , s h e h a s l i ved in Midtown Columbus for the past 7 years. Her c a r e e r i n n o n - p r o f i ts has led her to currently serve as Membership Ma n ag e r at T h e C o l u mbus Muse um.

T o p F ive P ret ti est Str eets i n Mi dtow n C ol u m b u s Leonard Street 16th Street Carter Avenue Linda Lane Summit Drive

T o p F ive W ors t Par ki ng Lots i n C ol u mb u s

Macon Road Publix Whittlesey Road Walmart Panera Finding a parking spot in Uptown until you realize you can park in the RiverCenter garage for free The 13th Street Shopping Center at lunchtime

T o p Five Understated Non-profits i n C o l u m b u s Children’s Treehouse Child Advocacy Center Valley Interfaith Promise Homeless Resource Network Truth Spring NeighborWorks

T o p F ive Frien dli est Str anger s I m e t th is w e e k

Cindy, the kind woman who jumpstarted my car in the middle of Macon Road The two-year-old child that greeted me excitedly every time we passed each other in Publix The stranger on the phone at a museum in California that I cold called to ask a professional opinion The woman who ran the register at CVS on Macon Road The little boy dressed as Super Man who wanted to give me a piece of his candy after I gave him one while Trick or Treating

T o p F ive Office Employee Thought s

Sarah Ti nsley

I need coffee That meeting should have been an email.

Where did all my paperclips go? Have I really used them all?

Why did they feel the need to hit “reply all” on this?

I’m hungry. *reads email* SNACKS IN THE BREAKROOM! YES!

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Daniel and Stephanie are so excited about the newest addition to their training programs. The new medical specialty programs are designed for people with diabetes, post-surgery patients and patients working under doctor’s exercise guidelines. When you’re in the gym for your health, avoid wasting time or even hurting yourself, and go straight to the experts at Anytime Fitness.

Anytime Fitness gives clients the resources and support needed to achieve their goals. While we could go on about things like contract flexibility and the state-of-the-art body analysis equipment, the best thing to do is visit for a tour.

Let Daniel, Stephanie, Jim or one of the team show you around.

They can show you the equipment, tell you about their various exercise programs, and set you down the path toward better health.

This New Year, start your resolution off with the right kind of support, in the right environment, with the right resources.

Start off at Anytime Fitness. by Tom Ingram editor

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s we enter the New Year, many of us are searching for the perfect place to work on our fitness resolutions. While we all have slightly different criteria, topping the checklist of

must-find gym qualities are a comfortable environment, expert staff and cutting-edge equipment.

Anytime Fitness, at 5408 Summerville Road in Phenix City, should be at the top of your list of gyms to visit.

Daniel and Stephanie Blevens are a husband and wife team dedicated to providing their clients with a comfortable environment in which to exercise, staffed by friendly experts who can help you pursue and achieve your goals with the best equipment around.

Daniel served 8 years in the 3rd Ranger Battalion, including 8 deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Wife Stephanie’s family is wellknown for the area’s favorite Halloween destination, Pope’s Haunted Farm. For the Blevens, the gym isn’t just a business; it’s a place where friends and neighbors can come together to achieve their fitness goals.

To help their friends and neighbors, Daniel and Stephanie are selective about who they hire.

Head trainer Jim Ford is a medical exercise specialist, with a laundry list of certifications. Everyone on Jim’s team are ACE and NASM certified, too. No other gym in the area has such a well-trained and educated staff, and that’s one reason why LocaL

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rightfromthestart.com Jan. 13, 10 – 11:30 a.m., Columbus, Georgia Convention and Trade Center, 801 Front Avenue, Columbus

Want to see your event listed here? Email editor@thelocalcolumbus.com

Legal Issues in Writing

You’ve written the perfect manuscript, but have you thought through your legal rights and liability? Attorney and author Anderson Harp will answer all of your writing-related legal questions. Jan. 13, 10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Columbus Botanical Garden, 3603 Weems Road, Columbus

General Meeting – NAACP

This general meeting is for the public to learn more about the NAACP, its local agenda and upcoming events. Jan. 13, 10:30 a.m.

- noon, NAACP Columbus, 2210 Wynnton Road, Columbus

The Write Stuff: Teen Writing & Performance Workshop

A Night of Music & Fashion at the River Mill Event Center

The Fountain City Teen Poetry Slam offers “The Write Stuff,” a free writing / performance workshop for area youth, ages 13 – 19. Jan. 6, noon 4:30 p.m., North Columbus Public Library, 5689 Armour Road, Columbus

Sponsored by Universal Beauty Distributors and Design Essentials this soiree will feature live music and fashion from some of Columbus’s most influential up-and-coming designers, models, boutiques, stylists, artists and business owners. This night will provide a creative venue to highlight their talents.

Jan. 13, 7 – 11 p.m., after party 11 p.m. - 2 a.m., River Mill Event Center, 3715 1st Avenue, Columbus

Wedding Extravaganza

A wedding in your future? Visit The Columbus Trade and Convention Center, you’ll find loads of vendors and everything you need to plan the wedding of your dreams. $7.

Jan. 7, 12:30 – 4:30 p.m., The Columbus Trade and Convention Center, 801 Front Avenue, Columbus

2018 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Awards Breakfast

Information and Orientation for Big Brothers and Big Sisters of the Chatt. Valley

The Columbus Alpha Phi Alphas invite you to the 32nd Annual Dr. King Unity Awards Breakfast, hosted by the men of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Delta Iota Lambda Chapter and presented by the Delta Iota Lambda Education Foundation. Over the last 31 years, Alpha Phi Alpha has presented hundreds of high school seniors in the Fountain City and surrounding area with hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships. In addition to advancing academic excellence, the Unity Award Breakfast also recognizes an individual or organization in our community that has consistently promoted unity and offered a positive influence in the economic, social and academic empowerment of our citizens. Jan. 15, 7 – 8:30 a.m., Columbus, Georgia Convention and Trade Center, 801 Front Avenue, Columbus

A Big Brother or Big Sister is an adult volunteer who shares activities with a child, a Little, so that the child can have a positive role model and friend with whom to explore the community. If you are interested in learning more about the BBBS organization, or want to sign up your child for the mentoring program, please join this session. Jan. 11, 5 – 8 p.m., Columbus Public Library, 3000 Macon Road, Columbus

Martin Luther King Unity Parade

Unity is key in everyday life. Join Perfect praise as they dance for unity. Jan. 13, 9 a.m., The Liberty Theatre and Cultural Center, 813 8th Ave, Columbus

Meet the Candidates for Georgia's 3rd Congressional District

I Wouldn't TRADE Ya for the World!

A scavenger hunt for couples. Search for clues related to the historical Trade Center and find relationship tips on how to make your union a happy one. Have fun, get out of the cold, and enjoy a morning with your partner. $8 per couple. Register at

Join Indivisible Columbus, Ga. As they host a meet and greet with the candidates vying to represent Georgia’s 3rd Congressional District, Rusty Oliver and Chuck Enderlin. If you live in Rep. Ferguson’s district, bring your questions on the issues that matter most to you and learn what you need ahead of casting your vote in the 2018 Congressional election. Jan. 16, 6 – 7 p.m., Columbus Public Library, 3000 Macon Road, Columbus

General Meeting, Muscogee County Democratic Party

Join the Muscogee County Democratic Party for their first general meeting of 2018. Jan. 20, 10:30 a.m. - 1 p.m., Columbus Public Library, 3000 Macon Road, Columbus

The Streets Don't Love You Stop the Violence Movement

Until we stand together, violence won’t stop. Are you tired, truly tired of crying for our children? Join us in the fight.

Jan. 20, 1:30 p.m., South Columbus Public Library, 2034 South Lumpkin Road, Columbus

Dessert & Drama

Join us for dramatic reads and yummy treats during our monthly book club meeting. New members are always welcome.

For more information call (706) 683-8805 Jan. 27, 3 – 4 p.m., South Columbus Public Library, 2034 South Lumpkin Road, Columbus Want to see your event listed here? Email editor@thelocalcolumbus.com LocaL

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January 2018

the Lion House

n Dec. 2, as part of the Historic Tour of Homes in Columbus, Brian Luedtke welcomed some 500 guests into the Lion House, O his elegant Greek Revival mansion at 1316 Third Avenue in High

flare of the door frames, contemporary Columbus residents enjoyed the same experience of standing on the wide portico, under the flying balcony, and being able to gaze west across the river.

But for all of the home’s beauty, its craftsmanship and elegant details, we are lucky that this architectural icon still has a roof, still stands at all. At the nadir of this stately home’s life, it very nearly fell victim to the wrecking ball.

Uptown. These guests enjoyed the home restored, over many years and thousands of man hours by Brian, to its former glory, with some modern conveniences, and fully dressed in holiday attire, with fruit and garlands framing the doorways and a Christmas tree rising from floor nearly to ceiling in the original ballroom of the house. The Lion House at Christmas is a festive sight, a harkening back to the 1840s home’s original significance. But the history of The Lion House is complicated, mysterious, and the home has seen dark days.

Since its construction, which began in the early 1840s, for Dr. Thomas Hoxey and his wife, all visitors have passed between the two eponymous, cast iron Nubian lions—one awake, one asleep—who have guarded the grand home since Columbus’s days as a frontier town. Just as Dr. Hoxey and his family ascended the steps to the portico and stood amid the six Temple-of-the-Winds-style Corinthian columns, so too did Brian’s guests during the tour. 170 years after the doctor’s family and guests enjoyed the solidity of the Egyptian

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Design & Construction

Stephen D. Button, architect of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, would, after designing several notable buildings in the south, return to his home and help organize the Philadelphia Institute of Architects, which later 14

January 2018

became the Philadelphia Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. Of his work in the south, the most well-known was the original state house in Montgomery, Alabama, which he designed in 1847, a year after the city became the state capital. The state house, with two stories rising over a rusticated raised basement and six Temple-of-the-Wind-style corinthian columns, was destroyed by fire in 1849; but these and other details Button had used a few years earlier, in the design of a stately town home, for Columbus doctor Thomas Hoxey.

One of the oldest remaining large homes in the city, one ascends the steps to the front portico between the home’s namesake, cast iron lions, where, between the six two-store columns, we first witness the dramatic Egyptian variations on the Greek Revival style in the sloping out of the doorways.

This sloping out, which contributes to the home’s impression of firmness and immovability— an impression borne out through its history, as the home stood while its neighbors fell, however precariously—is repeated in doorways throughout the home, symmetry being paramount in classical Greek design.

As one acclimates to the home’s impressive totality, that sense of quietly confident importance that Button borrowed from Greek religio-civic construction, the lively embellishments begin to come into focus. The capitals atop the columns on the portico inaugurate a lotus leaf motif, which will repeat in the fluted columns that midway flank the grand hallway inside.

Above the front entry and, as expected, above doorways throughout, are hand-carved designs out of Minard Lefever’s “Beauties of Modern Architecture,” LocaL

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which, with stunning results in homes like the Lion House, helped set the standard for antebellum high architectural style.

In the hallway today we see the original longleaf pine floors; originally, these floors would have been painted Pompeiian red, like the walls, but are now finished to elegantly show their age. Through doorways on the left we enter the two ballrooms, separated by pocket doors, rooms that Brian has converted into a formal living and dining room. Both rooms are richly appointed with antique furniture, some pieces contemporary to the home’s construction, some pre-dating. To the right of the grand hall were the original dining room and parlor. Brian, who lives in The Lion House, converted the parlor into a cozy living room and the dining room into a modern kitchen. The original kitchen was a two-room building behind the home, which long ago met the fate nearly suffered by the main house. At the far end of the hall is a grand staircase that circles up to the second floor. There, the original bedrooms are still used for their intended purpose.

The Lion House was built to be lived in, yes, but also to be a show place. Three years after leading a military expedition against Creek Indians—who, unwilling to be forcefully removed west to make room for more white settlers, were moving south to join with equally independent Seminoles in Florida—Dr. Thomas Hoxey founded the Columbus Lyceum Society.

Organizations of this kind, named for a temple dedicated to Apollo and most famous as the home of Aristotle’s Peripatetic school of philosophy, were common in important American communities, and would have hosted lectures on intellectual subjects, which Columbus historical records describe as “one of the most valuable societies the city ever had, by furnishing entertainment and instruction to the people.” Hoxey was a man of culture, and the Lion House would serve as an important cultural home for Columbus, including as the site for the city’s original Cotillion Club.

Down the grand staircase came many a southern belle to greet her beau.

Mysteries & the Macabre

Rumor and mystery surrounds many of Columbus’s historic homes, and the Lion House boasts a trifecta of historic home mystique.

Does the rubble-filled passage behind a basement door obstruct a secret tunnel; and, if so, where did the tunnel once lead? Is there a ghost, and is it of one of the Creek warriors said to be buried somewhere in the backyard? And why was there a cache of gold hidden in a window casing—when was it stashed there, and by whom?

Many of the stories told about the Lion House conflict. A 1968 story in the Ledger-Enquirer, by WC Woodall, claims that no one knows why the underground passage was built; however, there are two prominent theories advanced in the historical records, and both are probably true.

That there was a secret underground passage or tunnel doesn’t seem to be true, though; there seems almost no doubt whatsoever that the tunnel did exist, so the “secret” descriptor is misleading.

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Also in dispute is the terminus of the tunnel. The National Register of Historic Places Nomination form claims that the tunnel led to the Chattahoochee River. Brian believes otherwise.

Following a 1944 Ledger-Enquirer article and a historic Columbus map, Brian believes that the tunnel’s path led to the site of the old Racine Hotel, at 13th Street and First Avenue, where it “emerged on the banks of what was then a shallow lake,” according to the Ledger. The lake, as described in the article and in historical maps, did exist—as Brian explains, much of the area was swampy and had to be drained—and though exact dimensions of the lake vary, from 16th to 12th Streets seems a fair estimation. Ralph Jones, quoted in the article as “something of a historical expert about Columbus,” relates a common story about a team of mules being hidden there as Union troops approached the city in 1865.

Mrs. Ralston J. Cargill, who lived in Lion House and is also quoted in the 1944 article, says the tunnel was built because, when Columbus was first established, residents feared what she calls “attack by hostile tribes.” No doubt, though, that those Native Americans would have disputed which group of people were the aggressors. Still, the tunnel seems certainly to have been used, as the National Register of Historic Places Nomination has it, as an “escape mechanism during times of danger.” All of the records describe a doorway in the basement behind which appears to be a passage now filled with rubble.

As for the ghost at Lion House, of this legend there is less documentation. In the 1944 newspaper article, Ralph Jones is convinced that two Native Americans are buried in the backyard.

Jones is quoted as saying, “this fact being known to antebellum slaves probably led to their first whisperings of the house being haunted,” a story that is cited in other sources as being attributed to a post-war cook who worked at the home, though these sources indicated that the residents of the Lion House never reported any hauntings themselves.

As for a secret cache of gold coins, this discovery is also well documented. Unfortunately, none of the sources tell us who put the gold there, or when, or for what reason.

The Decline

The Second World War, during which Fort Banning grew into one of the most important military installations in the country, dramatically changed Columbus. After the war, as the men returned home and started families, as the population of Columbus boomed, High Uptown, the site of many grand historic homes, began to turn commercial. The old families discovered that their ancient houses were more valuable as commercial property, and many of the homes were torn down and replaced with commercial buildings.

Rather than being demolished, the Lion House endured two major transformations. First, the home was converted into offices.

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Occupying parts of the home at different times were school district offices and a music and dance school. After the home was used for offices, it was converted into nine individual apartments, and here is where the history of the once stately home becomes the story of decay, poverty and destruction.

A 1980 Ledger-Enquirer article reads, “The grandeur of [the Lion House’s] entrance is mocked… by abandoned appliances, occasional “rent due” notices and a chandelier with only a few light bulbs.”

For anyone who has visited the home, now restored by Brian, and who appreciates the beauty of the old place, reading this and other accounts from this nadir in the home’s history is difficult.

“The look of strength,” reads the article, “has vanished.”

By the early 80s, the home was used as a “trick house,” where prostitutes entertained clients. One apartment door displayed a sign reading, “Don’t no women stay here,” so as to save certain visitors time as they called on various apartments in search of company. Another sign, an arrow beside a locked upstairs door, was drawn along the wall and labeled with the word “LOVE,” a not-sosubtle indicator for callers.

Police at the time were well aware of the house’s use, but doing anything about the criminal activity was difficult.

The actual crime of solicitation would have occurred on the streets in Uptown.

From the street, the women would have taken clients to rooms at the Lion House, which would have been rented under someone else’s name. As warrants require that police know who live in an apartment, shutting down rooms used in a “trick house” was a serious challenge to the Columbus vice unit.

Reports from this period also indicate that the house was in rough shape.

Though listed on the National Register of Historic Places and therefore eligible for Federal money, local matching funds were in short supply and not nearly sufficient enough to cover necessary repairs. The staircase was ramshackle, strewn with debris and detritus. Vagrants moved in and out of the house.

Finally, on a Sunday in early October of 1986, there was a fire.

The roof was destroyed and the upper floor badly damaged. The outlook was bleak.

rallied to preserve one of its last remaining great homes, and today we all enjoy the fruits of this communal effort.

Out of this historical record are two compelling testimonies, connecting the Lion House’s past to the present, and evincing the variety of support the fire-ravaged home received. One comes from a woman living in West Chatham, Massachusetts, who wrote to the Ledger after receiving word of the fire. She writes about her husband’s grandmother, Annie Laurie Allen, who was married in the home, and describes the Lion House as “a magnificent old mansion.” Obviously working under the assumption that the house would not be saved, she offers to take the lions; “failing that,” she writes, “I hope somebody else will take care of them.”

The other testimony comes from Clason Kyle, long-time Columbus resident who wrote for the Ledger. Clason wrote many times about the Lion House, including its 1972 ascension to the National Register of Historic Places. About a month after the fire, Clason’s headline reads “‘Lady’ Desperately Needs a Hat” and he wonders if anyone cares about the home. His concern is the rain then falling on the house; as Clason writes, “As much as it blesses, nothing damages more than rain.” His is a tender, yet urgent, call to his community: from one “ardent preservationist to another” we must save this unique monument to our shared history.

These calls would be heard. The Lion House was saved. Through community cooperation, the home was kept intact and safe from the wrecking ball. Then, in February of 1995, Brian Luedtke purchased the home and embarked on the dramatic restoration project we now celebrate.

If you missed this December’s Holiday Tour of Homes, mark your calendars today. Whatever chances you have to visit this unique architectural icon, take them. The Lion House, as Brian Luedtke is proud to say, is once again a “living, breathing home.”

“She’s alive again,” says Brian, just before I leave. He has taken me on a tour of his home, recalled the history and the careful process of restoration and renovation. As we shake hands on the sidewalk, I know that Brian loves this place, just as many have adored her in the past.

Columbus once branded itself with the slogan, “What progress has preserved.” When visiting The Lion House, the old slogan has never been more evocative of our community’s better nature.

by Tom Ingram editor

Lion House Restored

But the house stands today, looking better than it has in its entire history. By January of 1987, less than a week after Ramada City Centre donated the Lion House to the Historic Columbus Foundation, workers began replacing the roof, paid for out the foundation’s proceeds from sale of the Columbus Steeplechase.

Though the fire had caused $90,000 in damage, the community LocaL

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January 2018

12th Annual Red Nose Half Marathon The 13.1 mile, certified course starts and finishes at 11th and Broadway, and follows the scenic Columbus Riverwalk. No registration fees; the run is free. Jan. 6, 8 a.m., Big Dog Fleet Feet, 1200 Broadway, Columbus

MLK 5k, 10k & 1 Mile

Starting at the Martin Luther King YMCA and ending at the Liberty Theatre, this is the third race in the Columbus Roadrunners Winter Series. For more info: ab@bigdogfleetfeet.com Jan. 13, 8 a.m. - noon, The Liberty Theatre, 813 8th Avenue, Columbus

WILD About Cold Weather Camping

Outside World Columbus’s ladies-only clinics will kick off 2018 with a freeze as they dive right into cold weather camping. Learn how to choose the right gear to keep warm, tips and tricks for when the temperatures plummet, and how to spot the signs and treat hypothermia. Jan. 17 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., Outside World, 1025 Broadway, Columbus

Unusual Percussion and a Little “Rach”

Never have recycled cans, hubcaps and bottles of all shapes and sizes sounded so amazing. Jarvlepp’s concerto is a masterpiece of whimsical repurposing and ingenuity. Pair it with Rachmaninoff’s lush, lyrical, post-Romantic symphony and you have a concert experience you will never forget. Jan. 20, 7:30 – 10 p.m., Columbus Symphony Orchestra, 900 Broadway, Columbus

Porch Dog to Big Dog

Get yourself in running shape with Big Dog Fleet Feet. Jan. 22, 6 – 7 p.m., Big Dog Fleet Feet, 1200 Broadway, Columbus

Florida Trip Planning Meeting

Outside World’s WILD group Florida Paddle trip is less than a month away and there are some details left to sort out. During this clinic, the ladies of WILD will focus on meal planning for the trip, as during the previous trip planning clinic it was decided that the group would cook together. Free and exclusive for the ladies on the Florida Paddle trip. Jan. 24, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., Outside World, 1025 Broadway, Columbus

Callaway Gardens Marathon Half Marathon / 5k

Enjoy these races entirely within Callaway Gardens on one of the most beautiful courses that you’ll ever run. Pass the Day Butterfly Center, Callaway Discover Center, Sibley Horticultural Center, the Ida Cason Memorial Chapel, the Callaway Brothers Azalea Bowl and Mr. Carson’s Vegetable Garden and enjoy the gentle rolling hills. For tickets and more information, visit tricolumbus.com Jan. 27, 8 – 11 a.m., Callaway Gardens, Pine Mountain, Ga.

An Evening of Crystal Singing Bowls & Yin Yoga

Yin Yoga is a slow, quiet practice that focuses on gentle stretching of the muscles and connective tissues. Crystal singing bowls produce pure tones that naturally resonate with the human body, which helps balance our electromagnetic energies.

The vibrations of the Crystal Singing Bowls enhance the practice of Yin Yoga in creating a unique resonance, harmonization and integration process that promotes healing on the physical, emotional and mental levels. Jan. 28, 6 – 7:15 p.m., Art of Yoga, 627 2nd Avenue, #6, Columbus Want to see your event listed here? Email editor@thelocalcolumbus.com LocaL

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January 2018

New year, new you?

H o w t o o pt im i ze yo u r N e w Y e a r ’s h ealth resoluti on

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f you’re a regular gym goer, you’ve probably noticed the spike in gym attendance, as though membership has increased. It has. This is the beginning of the year, when everyone vows to be better than they were last year.

Studies show that setting clear goals for yourself improves success rates, and every year more than 40 percent of Americans make the dreaded decision to lose weight or to eat healthier.

Research also shows that only eight percent of Americans stick to their New Years resolution. Why are the pitfalls that prevent most people from sticking to and achieving their fitness goals every year?

One reason people abandon their fitness goals after a few weeks into the New Year is time management. To start a new exercise routine or engage new eating habits, you have to

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carve out time enough to follow through. You need to make time for the gym, make time to cook. Does that mean you need to cut time on social media? Not necessarily.

Social media isn’t all bad. In fact, there are many resources on social media that can help with your health goals. Instagram, for example, is replete with personal trainers with pages dedicated to helping people achieve their goals. Instagram can also be useful for motivation and tracking progress. People like following a story, and if you feel like sharing yours, friends and family keeping up with and cheering on your progress can be a significant help.

But sticking to these commitments requires more than the support of the people around us; you must also be mentally prepared.

Just as you would study well in advance for an exam, sticking to our health goals requires regular dedication, and regular dedication requires focus and determination. Still, this determination should never become an obsession. While keeping track of progress and staying focused are vital, it is important not to let the numbers—constantly weighing ourselves, or too meticulously counting calories—to take over. Not only is that sort of obsession a drain on the mental energy we need to stick to our goals, it’s also a misplaced focus; after all, the idea is to feel better, not stress the small stuff.

Also, it is important not to gauge your progress against that of others. Everyone progresses in different ways and at different rates. At the end of the day, when our New Year’s resolution is about being healthier, if we’re being more conscientious about our diet and spending more time staying active, we will feel better. And feeling better is the whole idea.

by Richard Brown

January 2018

by Tom Ingram editor

The first & the friendliest

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olumbus may enjoy mild winters, so much so that we have, during our coldest month, outdoors events aplenty on our Wellness and Outdoors calendar (page #18); but many of us find ourselves increasingly cooped up and, over these brief winter days, out of the sun.

About 5 percent of Americans suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which Psychology Today describes as “a type of depression that sets in during the short days of fall and winter and lasts until spring.” Depression needs treatment; if you think you suffer from SAD, visit a professional and get yourself taken care of.

But many of us, on some January night, face in the window, tea cooling in the cup and house dramatically quiet in the wake of Christmas revelry, will probably feel the winter blues.

Maybe our housemates, whether spouses, lovers, roommates or children, will do that one thing one more time than you can stand and your temper flares. Maybe cabin fever creeps over you one early afternoon and your kookiness levels go through the roof and even as you watch yourself getting weirder and weirder you can’t stop it, and your housemates have given up trying to help and are now watching just for the novel entertainment.

However winter affects you, we have some ideas to help you make the coldest month of the year cozy.

1. Plan ahead: I learned a lot from living in northwest Arkansas, where ice storms are notoriously brutal. Before the winter, we prepared. We made sure that everyone’s winter coats still fit and that the heavy boots were not worn out. We added a board game or two to the cabinet and talked about our favorite cold-weather meals, hearty soups and chilies, nutritions recipes that warm us up and keep us happy through the nastiest part of the weather. We also prepared to make the best of the good days outside. However cold, if properly attired, winter is a great time to go outdoors. We scoped choice sledding hills and made little bets on which ponds and streams would freeze. Ice storms in northwest Arkansas are rough, yes; but with a little foresight, we hunkered down comfortably. Those ice storms are also beautiful, and after they blew through, just walking through the neighborhood to admire the aftermath was a treat. For winter, plan ahead.

Have activities ready and good food on the stove, and if it’s safe to go out, bundle up and go.

2. Winter can be bleak, even in Columbus. The grass dies down and trees lose their leaves. Frosty mornings are white with gray skies. Winter, as it drags on, can look dull. To fight back against the grayscale monotony, inject some color and variety in your life. With more time spent at home, introduce some color

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or owner Brad Adams, TasteFull Vapes is all about community service. His shop was the first in the area to offer a fullservice, single-stop destination for all things vaping, opening the doors to a small store in March 2013. Recently moved to a new location, 6440 West Hamilton Park Drive, Suite B1, in Columbus, Brad offers the latest in vaping technology, with more products at the best prices in the area.

Though Brad and his staff have moved to a new location (and double check the location on your GPS; it’s NOT Old Hamilton Road), the mission remains the same: to provide the best service and best products in a family atmosphere. As Brad explains, “it was never about the money,” and his “just something to do” has blossomed into a thriving business with many loyal customers.

During the recent move, many of Brad’s customers showed up to help him move cabinets and inventory. Sure, they come because Brad keeps up with technology that’s moving faster than cell phones while keeping his products near wholesale prices; but they also show up for Brad because Brad shows up for them.

For Brad, customer service is the mission. He makes house calls and delivers to customer’s places of work. One customer, who had to leave town at 6 a.m., called at 2 a.m. because his rig broke. Brad was there. Brad says he has even been called when a customer had a flat tire, and sure enough, Brad was on his way to help.

Since 2013, Brad has set the standard for vape shops in Columbus, always in the fore. Moving into the new location, Brad is excited to continue this tradition. He already sees game nights and bar-be-ques. Whether you are already into vaping, looking for better products, or are interested in transitioning from cigarettes to something that doesn’t reek, TasteFull Vapes should be your first stop—it’ll likely be the only one you need to make.

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January 2018

Chili Crawl, First Friday Americus A fun, family-oriented way to beat the mid-winter blues and enjoy Americus. This cook off features 15 inventive and delicious chili entries, housed in various downtown businesses. Jan. 5, 5 – 8 p.m., Downtown Americus, Ga College Football Championship Watch Party Come watch the CFB Championship Game at CIRCA; unlimited wings for $10; whiskey tasting featuring four delicious spirits and new cocktails for $20. Jan. 8, 6 p.m. - midnight, CIRCA Craft Cocktails, 900 Front Avenue, Columbus Cocktails and Characters Award-winning investigative reporter Robert Kolker delivers a haunting and humanizing account of the true-life search for a serial killer still at large on Long Island, in a compelling tale of unsolved murder and Internet prostitution. This library staff-led book club is open to the public. Attendees responsible for buying their own food and beverages. Jan. 9, 6 – 8 p.m., Mellow Mushroom, 6100 Veterans Parkway, Columbus Wine, Wheels & Yoga for Women Ladies, come by Ride on Bikes for $3 wine tasting and a little yoga with Kristi Snyder—not necessarily in that order. This is a great way to kick off the New Year and get to know other female cyclists and fitness fans. Leave your bikes at home. Jan. 9, 6 – 7:30 p.m., Ride On Bikes, 1036 Broadway, Columbus The Tasting Room Join CIRCA Craft Cocktails every Tuesday for The Tasting Room. every Tuesday, 7 – 9 p.m., CIRCA Craft Cocktails, 900 Front Avenue, Columbus Chili Cook Off and Bake Sale Join Chattahoochee Harley-Davidson and bring your best chili.

Register for free by calling (706) 324-4294. Customers will taste and vote for a winner, who will walk away with a cash prize and bragging rights. Jan. 13, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Chattahoochee Harley-Davidson, 3230 Williams Road, Columbus I Love the 90s Party at Wild Leap Alright: stop, collaborate and listen, Wild Leap Brewing Co. is throwing an I Love the 90s Party. They’re lacing up their high tips, putting on fanny packs and getting’ jiggy with it to the best music of the 90s. Jan. 20, 7 p.m. - midnight, Wild Leap Brewing Co., 308 Main Street, LaGrange, Ga. Pot Luck Celebrating Indivisible Columbus's One Year Anniversary The owners of The Pound House will graciously open their doors to Indivisible Columbus, free of charge, for the organization to reflect on their successes and losses. Organized in the wake of the previous presidential election, Indivisible Columbus fights for the future of democracy in our country. Feb. 3, 6 p.m., The Rothschild-Pound House, 201 7th Street, Columbus.

Want to see your event listed here? Email editor@thelocalcolumbus.com LocaL

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January 2018

APEROL SPRITZ

3 parts Zardetto Prosecco 2 parts Aperol splash of soda water orange slice, for garnish

Add all ingredients to ice-filled wine glass.

Garnish with orange slice.

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Everything Old Is New Again

t is often said, in the fashion world, that if something hangs in your closet long enough, it will come back into style and you can wear it again (provided it still fits). The world of spirits can be equally fickle, with spirits and cocktails waxing and waning in popularity. When was the last time you ordered a Harvey Wallbanger, Pink Lady, Sloe Gin Fizz or Singapore Sling.

Below are some spirits that have been experiencing a resurgence in popularity in recent years, and have become bartender favorites for formulating craft cocktails. A cocktail theme party would be great with any one or more of these spirits.

Drambuie: a liqueur made from scotch whiskey, honey and a blend of herbs and spices, the original recipe dates back to the mid-1700s. With a few changes in recipe and ownership over the years, Drambuie is currently owned by William Grant & Sons, the makers of Glenfiddich.

Limoncello: an Italian liqueur produced mainly in southern Italy from the zest of Femminello St. Teresa lemons. Lemon zest is steeped in rectified spirit until the oil is released. The resulting yellow liquid is then mixed with simple syrup. It is this mixing that gives lemoncello its characteristic strong lemon flavor without the bitterness of pure lemon juice. It can be served chilled after dinner, mixed in cocktails, or even used to flavor ice cream.

Aperol: developed in 1919, this spirit gained popularity in the 1920s and 30s. Its unique bittersweet taste is derived from a secret recipe that has remained unchanged since 1919.

The Aperol Spritz is the signature cocktail made from Aperol, and considered by many to be “Italy’s Cocktail.” Its relatively low alcohol content (11%) makes it ideal for a brunch cocktail, afternoon sipper or an aperitif.

STIRRED SOUR

2 ounces Woodford Reserve Bourbon 1 ounce Paolucci Limoncello 1 dash Fee Brothers Orange Bitters 1 dash Fee Brothers Old Fashion Bitters

Add bourbon and limoncello to ice-filled glass.

Add bitters. Shake to blend and chill. Strain into cocktail glass. Garnish with lemon twist.

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

S p i r i t s M a n a g e r & Ch i e f Bo t t l e Wa s h e r O f Uptown Wine & Spirits

What To Do About the Winter Blues... continued to your interior design. Bright accent pillows go a long way, and curtains can make a dramatic, lively statement. For your car, go ahead and be that person who leaves the Rudolph nose and antlers on through the season, and we certainly hope you’re that person who puts a Rudolph nose and antlers on your car for December. Most of all, though, as a gift to the people you work and shop with, make your wardrobe bright. Get a green or purple scarf. Chose accents that have some variety, patterns that make you smile. Chances are, if it makes you smile, it’ll work on someone else, too.

3. Many people resolve to learn a new skill, take up a new hobby or start a project for New Year’s. January offers ample time to devote toward these goals.

Fill up these long winter evenings with something productive. Not only will you feel good for having worked toward something, you’ll also have something interesting to share with family and friends, who you should call more frequently this time of year.

4. Call your friends and family more.

by Tom Ingram editor

RUSTY NAIL

1 ½ ounces scotch whisky ½ ounce Drambuie 1 twist of lemon peel

Add scotch and Drambuie to ice-filled glass. Stir well. Garnish with lemon twist.

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January 2018

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January 2018

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January 2018