The LocaL, July 2018

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STUFF TO READ You Don’t Know Rudy Maddox?

Music Spotlight (Not a) Naïve Melody

Holistic Columbus Expo In Conversation with Bo Bartlett

“Parents”

Letter from the Editor

here are two vices I cannot T abide in other people. The first is littering. The second is not tipping.

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10 14 Restaurant Week 2018 Chattahoochee River Conservancy 16 18 Atomic Tattoo 22 COCKTAIL CLUB UPSTREAM

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I wonder sometimes why I even have to explain these things.

Certainly no one in the circle of friends I keep are guilty of these aggressions against their community, and if they ever are, they know damn well not to let me know about it. No excuse exists for either behavior. Still, I understand some people might not agree with me. I also understand one of my responsibilities is to advance ideas that promote positive community involvement. While I think two of our articles this month cover each issue—our cover story on The Giving Kitchen ought to make clear why all servers deserve a living wage, and Frank Etheridge’s excellent article on the Wild and Scenic Film Festival stakes out in no uncertain terms the virtue of environmental responsibility—taking a moment to address littering and poor tipping directly is always, I think, a solid idea.

Littering. I have two friends who share nothing at all in common, except their loathing for litter. On most every other subject that comes up in the course of conversation, they are polar opposites; but if you let the subject drift to littering, they are in complete accord. It’s awful, they both agree. One friend laments the global impact of general environmental degradation; the other focuses on the unsightly reality of McDonald’s bags tossed carelessly on neighborhood streets. They’re both right, of course. Littering dirties up our community, and the vast accumulation of litter contributes to global environmental problems. Whether our concern is global or local—and I hope we can agree we should be concerned with both—our personal responsibility is to dispose of our waste in proper receptacles— not wherever possible, but always, because it is always possible to do so. Recycling, I think, is no stretch, either; call (706) 6534000 in Columbus to get your own recycling container, which goes out on trash day.

Tipping. I have worked in the service industry. I spent two years in a local restaurant, and I loved most minutes of it. I enjoyed helping other people enjoy their meals. When you go out to eat or drink, chances are your servers care very much about your dining experience. But let’s imagine your server is awful. I mean, imagine a server who is neglectful, mixes up orders, seems to have a poor attitude. When confronted with such a server, we have two options: first, we can use their bad day as an excuse to keep a few extra dollars in our pocket; second, we can accept that everyone has a bad day at work, and tip them just the same.

We all have bad days at work. We all, however hard we try not to, bring to work with us all manner of personal stresses and concerns. For a server, I think, these issues carry an unusual weight, given their role of interacting with the public. If we pride ourselves on having any compassion whatsoever, we will tip our server, regardless of circumstance. We will step for a moment out of ourselves and open our hearts. We will understand how a person earning $2.13 per hour rely on we, the dining public, to pay for rent and every other expense under the sun. When you have a bad day at your untipped job, chances are you still collect your regular paycheck. Extend to these servers the same consideration, and never let petty excuse dissuade you from being a good neighbor.

Both of these issues boil down, in important ways, to neighborliness. Let us support one another. Let us care for one another. Recycle. Tip your servers. Remember, then, these wisest of words: be excellent. We can be excellent, and I trust you will be.

Thank you for reading.

Tom Ingram Editor 3

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t hel o cal co l u mbu 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 publisher@thelocalcolumbus.com ads@thelocalcolumbus.com

EDITOR

Tom Ingram editor@thelocalcolumbus.com

LAYOUT & DESIGN

Mat Cornett

CONTRIBUTORS & CREDITS

Bobbie Yeo Joe Miller Frank Etheridge Richard Edwards April Norris Matt Szabo

COVER PHOTOGRAPHY Erika Botfeld

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PAWS H UMA NE

M a d d o x ?

Th e Five Freedom s

aws Humane Society, like all animal shelters and boarding facilities in P Georgia, is licensed by the Georgia Department of Agriculture. Many states do not require inspections and licensing of facilities within their jurisdictions.

By April Norris

love saying the words, “I knew him/her when…” and decided to put it into IMaddox. undeniable evidence that I will one day say this about local talent, Rudy When he writes, acts, or simply shares Euvera De Mornay Johnston

Unfortunately, this allows more room for the proliferation of well-meaning but misguided rescue efforts.

On any given day Paws Humane Society houses 100 animals, not including those in foster homes. The care we give these creatures each day provides the foundation for everything we do once we take them in to our facility. The Department of Agriculture provides a very basic set of standards.

However, at Paws, we go much further than this.

In 2011, the Association of Shelter Veterinarians published the “Guidelines for Standards of Care in Animal Shelters”. This publication addresses everything from intake procedures to enclosure size to maintaining the mental health of the animals we care for.

It’s a tall order but I’ve seen it make a big difference in terms of live outcomes when shelters begin to adopt these practices.

At Paws Humane Society we also take into consideration the Five Freedoms which originated in 1965 with a report issued by the UK Technical Committee tasked with a study of intensive livestock operations. Although the report was initially focused on farm animals, it was later distilled into the list we have today which has been adopted internationally as a basic guide for keeping companion animals in any high density environment.

We use the Five Freedoms, along with the other standards, to guide our dayto-day operations and ensure that the care each animal receives is appropriate to her needs, which may at times be unique. The concepts are simple:

(his antagonistic neighbor on Facebook), it is always comedy gold. I have it on good authority that I am not the only one that waits for what he will say or do next. So, this is for the fellow Rudy fans that send me screenshots of his hilarious posts and all things Rudy. He has been in local productions, such as The Taming of the Shrew, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and The Cannibal under the direction of Troy Heard (another local legend gone Vegas).

He also played in Clybourne Park, a much more serious role about the realities of gentrification at The Liberty Theater in Downtown Columbus.

We sat in our usual spot behind the salon to discuss his latest project and the chatter around his name due to his terribly outspoken neighbor, Euvera who “tolerates the sinner, but not the sin!” I grab my speaker every time I see him make her the unwitting star of her own show on Facebook Live. One must send a laughing emoji the moment she calls him a “cluttah collectin’ queeah” due to his love of lawn decorations for every holiday. This July 4th should make her head spin at all the freedoms that are “ruining this country.” She doesn’t care that he’s a “queeah” because he’s “always known it.” Euvera considers herself an expert on worldly issues, loves listening to Patsy Cline, and spreads her gossip at the Piggly Wiggly. Rudy will often walk over to her house for a visit to find her sipping Ripple and ready to discuss how Rudy should dress more like a “man not a street walkah.” He baits her into dealing with her prejudices with conversations about her biracial children and her husband Jerome, who went to the store and never came back. “She is convinced that he went back into the service and was captured by pirates.” Rudy sets up the camera and allows us to listen as she describes how his life must be much like Tom Hanks in the movie Castaway, yells at Rudy for all of his behaviors, and sounds like a relative you avoid during the holidays. I asked Rudy how he puts up with her.

“I love her. She refuses to pay more than $3.99 for wine. She is devout in her mission to declutter my yard. She is the nosey neighbor that secretly listens to Snoop Dog, but tells me that George Jones illuminates her hallway in the night.” He admits that he finds a bit of himself in Euvera and sees a kind nature under all that bigotry. She has a familiar sound that can be found anywhere in the south and is often as hateful as she is loveable. “And it all began with my lawn decorations,” he said after his confrontational encounter and decided to forgive her “Because anyone who is that upfront and honest about who they really are is someone worth listening to.” Rudy makes us comfortable as we laugh off the abuse that she hurls at him throughout the “show.”

Whether he is rolling down a hill in The Columbus Amphitheater taming a shrew, dancing into a time warp as an alien transvestite, or playing a racist husband, he taps into the role on the page and steals the show. His latest venture is simply making his neighbor aware that they are more alike than she can handle. I have already made an appointment at Salon Bellage to sit in Rudy’s chair for “highlights” and laughter therapy. Until then I look forward to more shocking videos with the very layered Euvera, who unbeknownst to her makes a Facebook Live appearance around July 4th. u

1. Freedom from hunger or thirst: This freedom seems hardly worth mentioning because it is so basic and it is contained in most state laws and local ordinances. Still, when you are caring for large numbers of animals it should be built into the standard operating procedures followed by staff members so there are no gaps in care.

2. Freedom from discomfort: Animals should have easy access to shelter from rain, cold and heat. This requirement is also contained in most state and local law books.

3. Freedom from pain, injury or disease: Disease prevention has to be an active endeavor. It begins with sound intake protocols which include vaccination on intake. The second line of defense is achieved through prompt diagnosis and treatment once an issue is suspected.

Incoming animals which are injured or diseased should receive treatment as soon as possible. Unfortunately, this does not always occur in many cashstrapped municipal shelters.

4. Freedom to express normal behavior: This freedom requires that sufficient space be set aside for individual housing. Opportunities should be provided for animals to socialize and engage in play with their own kind, as their individual temperaments allow. This outlet is essential to long-term mental health for any animal.

5. Freedom from fear and distress: Some animals handle the shelter environment well, while others do not. Soft bedding, toys, even music can help animals relax. A well-run foster program allows opportunities for fearful dogs and cats to live in quiet homelike

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settings until they are cleared for adoption. Even well-balanced dogs and cats can feel the strain of shelter life over time. This is where staff members and volunteers can provide relief by allowing animals to relax in our office space or by spending a little time in their space.

All it takes is a little empathy and common sense to give stray and unwanted animals the support they need to go on to successful outcomes and it is something we take seriously at Paws Humane Society. u 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

(Not a)

Naïve Melody

This Must Be the Place for Songstress Emily Stilwell

“I don’t sound like I look—people say that to me all the time,” Emily Stilwell explains when asked how such a big-volume, bluesy vocal delivery can arrive from such a diminutive stature.

Talking over a noon-hour coffee and pastry last month at Fountain City Coffee, the 26-year-old singersongwriter discusses both her musical inspirations and inhibitors in an unassuming, full-disclosure fashion—a refreshing blend of humility, honesty and artistic purity—shortly before her shift at Whitewater Express a couple blocks away begins. “Right now, my life is rafting, yoga and music,” she says. “It’s a weird blend, but it’s nice to stay busy, especially since that with yoga and music you can’t ever tell how much money you’re going to bring home each month.”

In late spring, Stilwell spent a month in an immersion program in India to obtain her yoga teaching certification and currently leads classes at the UP! Factory on Wynnton Road in Midtown. “I’ve put my energy into the yoga thing for right now,” she says.

“I’ve never sought out success with music—it’s always been more for pleasure. I feel like I sacrificed a lot with my music in that I’ve refused to do something that felt unnatural, something that was done just to LocaL

By Frank Etheridge find success. Lots of people like my music but still you have to find your audience. When it’s not something mainstream, it can be hard for the audience to sort through. But they do show up and they do remember you whenever it resonates.”

An engaging hybrid of jazz, blues and folk with a classical flair, Stilwell’s music—typically performed under the name Lady of the Lake in both solo and group formats has earned an audience in both Columbus and her native Atlanta area. Hailing from Stockbridge, roughly a 30-minute drive southeast of downtown Atlanta, her first musical memories come from age six, when she began “messing around on an old upright piano” in a household where her mother would play the occasional hymnal and her father’s love of soul and funk music inspired him to pick up guitar when she was 12. Stilwell is classically trained on

piano by virtue of private lessons taken from ages six to 18, knows guitar from playing with her father, and credits her uncle’s love of old records by Dean Martin and Little Anthony and the Imperials.

“My vocal technique is definitely from that period,” Stilwell says of the vintage R&B, cool crooning stylings of those aforementioned artists. “It’s different and weird. My approach depends on the style of song I’m singing. I envision a specific artist in the back of my mind and feel out how they would sing the song. If I’m singing the blues, I’ll picture Big Mama Thornton and picture how she did it.”

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where Stilwell regularly gigs in Atlanta. She performs at neo-hippie haven Smith’s Olde Bar, competes in the open mic hosted at acoustic/folk mecca Eddie’s Attica (“I usually place in the top three but they’ve never passed the baton to me as winner”), and sings at iconic blues venue Northside Tavern with local legend Mudcat during his weekly Wednesday night slot. “He’s the classic bluesman, always kinda wasted,” she says of Mudcat. “I’ve been sitting in with him since I was 18. It’s never rehearsed—probably would be a lot cleaner if so—but it’s always a great time.”

Stilwell moved to Columbus four years ago to pursue a relationship with a guy that soon went sour. Nevertheless, she’s made a home and found a supportive musical community here. “It’s so cozy and welcoming here,” Stilwell says. “The musicians are so well educated and talented but also accessible to work with and are willing and excited to do so.”

In addition to Jesse Shelby (Magnetic Musos, and producer of Stilwell’s efforts at the Loft Recoding Studio) and others, Stilwell credits pianist and composer Donald Tipton as a mentor.

“She’s a marvelous talent and consummate musician,” Tipton says of Stilwell in a brief phone interview. “Emily’s a wonderful classical pianist, though I think she prefers to be singing and playing guitar as part of the livemusic experience. She’s the queen of sultry, steamy ballads with a voice that’s warm, thick and melodic. She’s going to do well.

Counting roughly 20 original songs in her repertoire, Stilwell plans to continue releasing her material as singles online, as both audio streams and artful concept videos. Present in the here and now, however, she’s focused on how her music feels.

“Whenever I perform a song well all the way through and it connects with the audience, it leaves me feeling like I’m floating,” she says. “It feels so good when you see a song light up in their eyes because you know you leave them floating, too.”

Catch Emily Stilwell’s performances this month at Fountain City and Iron Bank coffeeshops and every Tuesday evening 6 p.m.-8 p.m. as host of Bare Roots Farmacy’s open-mic night.u

Ta k e b a c k yo u r h e a lt h The 2018 Holistic Columbus Expo connects vendors and speakers to people who believe natural and noninvasive practices should be the first approach to health

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ippocrates of Kos, the classical Greek physician and “Father of Medicine,” is often credited with the famous refrain, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food,” but scholars do not know who actually first set down the words in writing. Hippocrates was not a lone figure in the wilderness of early medicine; instead, he was the progenitor of an entire school of medical thinking and practice, an extensive and systematic approach to health that resonates to this very day. Whoever formulated the famous call to base one’s health in diet, the wisdom is preserved because it holds true.

“Some 70 vendors will provide visitors with a wealth of holistic, natural and noninvasive options.”

The 2018 Holistic Columbus Expo is an outgrowth of this ancient, unassailable wisdom. Some 70 vendors will provide visitors with a wealth of holistic, natural and noninvasive options. Wellness advocates of all stripes—including medical doctors, chiropractors, massage therapists, osteopaths, food consultants and aromatherapists—will be available at the Columbus, Ga. Convention and Trade Center’s North Hall on Aug. 11, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., to help those new to healthy living get started and to introduce those already on their journey with new practices and options.

The Expo is the brainchild of Tamara Edwards, who developed the idea of a local event after visiting similar conferences all across the US. “I wanted our town to get exposed to healing practices that were not conventional,” Tamara explains. Drawing from her experiences at Mind, Body and Soul Conferences, which are organized by Yoga Journal and the Omega Institute, Tamara reached out to local and regional experts to organize an event that could bring those lessons learned in places as wide-ranging as New York and San Francisco to Columbus.

The response was immense. In the Expo’s first year, 2016, nearly 50 vendors and 3,000 individuals attended the Expo, soaking up and sharing the expertise and wisdom pulled from our own local communities. Of the 60 participating vendors from 2017, almost all are eager to return for this year’s Expo, which is expected to be the most avidly-attended Expo yet. This year-on-year growth, the Expo’s increasing ability to bring together so many vendors, speakers and attendees, is a powerful testament to the established popularity of holistic healing in our area.

No wonder, then, that so many excellent local businesses are proud to sponsor the Expo, including Callaway Blue, The Loft, MaBella’s Italian Steakhouse,

“Wellness advocates of all stripes—including medical doctors, chiropractors, massage therapists, osteopaths, food consultants and aromatherapists— will be available”

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Bloomers Lawn & Garden and MercyMed of Columbus. All Expo attendees will receive tickets for drawings for prizes provided by sponsors, including a paddle board from Outside World and a bicycle from Ride On Bikes. Guests will also have the opportunity to hear from expert and insightful speakers at two panel discussions: Conscious Aging and Mental Health, an Honest Discussion. May McDaniel and Jerry Farber, both of whom have been featured in past issues of this magazine, will contribute to the panel on Conscious Aging, sharing their stories of growing old with tenacity.

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New to this year’s Expo is the Friday night banquet, also at the Columbus Convention and Trade Center from 6 to 8 p.m.. Speakers include Dale Jackson, a father and business owner, who will share how and and his family have worked hard to provide their beautiful son, who has autism, with a natural wellness plan that includes CBDs; Dr. William Setzer, Professor Emeritus in the Chemistry Department on the University of Alabama, Huntsville, will be on hand to discuss the research behind why essential oils work. For entertainment, don’t miss Jerry Farber, who will bring his unique blend of hip piano finesse and warm-blooded humor, as well as a few friends.

This year’s Holistic Columbus Expo is the perfect opportunity to begin or reinvigorate your commitment to taking charge of your own health while enjoying entertainment—including kickboxing and yoga demonstrations—all under one roof. u For banquet tickets, please visit holisticcolumbus.com

Fused Fragments: 2018 FC Slam Exhibition Show & Dinner

Support our young artists at the free 7:30 p.m. show, and help send young writers and performers of The Fountain City Poetry Slam to the 2018 Brave New Voices Festival by attending the pre-show dinner and alumni showcase, $15. July 14, 6 - 9 p.m., National Civil War Naval Museum, 1002 Victory Drive, Columbus

Painting Party at Omaha Brewing

Join OBC for the Paint the Giraffe Painting Party. No experience necessary and all materials will be provided. $40. Call to reserve: (229) 838-4779. July 20, 6 p.m., Omaha Brewing Company, 265 Brew Street, Omaha, Ga.

Christmas in July

You chance to paint your very own heirloom to pass down. Complementary hot chocolate and cookies will be served, Christmas music included. Call (706) 571-0507 to reserve your place. July 21, 4 - 7 p.m., Bare Ware Pottery Studio, 3912 Woodruff Road, Columbus

Goals Over Gossip Mid-Year Vision Board Party

Whether your year has been successful so far or you’ve hit some stumbling blocks, there’s still six months left to achieve your dreams. In this special painting party, transform plain canvas into your very own vision board, full of color, affirmations and more. Also enjoy guest speakers and refreshments. July 29, 3 - 6 p.m., Painting with a Twist, 6298 Veterans Parkway, Columbus Want to see your event listed here? Email events@thelocalcolumbus.com

From Swords to Plowshares

From Swords to Plowshares offers a glimpse into the dazzling array of objects known as “trench art.” This term applies to any item made by soldiers, prisoners of war, or civilians from war material or any other material associated with armed conflict. The functional and decorative objects included in this exhibition focus particularly on metal art forms. Makers of trench art utilized artillery shells, bullets, shrapnel, aircraft parts, currency, and other miscellaneous metal scrap and applied materials. Their ingenuity and skill resulted in pieces from primitive decorated artillery shell cases executed in trenches to elaborately embellished artillery shell lamps, cigarette lighters, and ashtrays exhibiting extraordinary craftsmanship. through July 16, Galleria Cases, The Columbus Museum, 1251 Wynnton Road

Fort Benning at 100

In connection with the regionwide celebration of Fort Benning’s centennial year, Fort Benning at 100 spotlights the base’s history in the Columbus Phenix City area. Artifacts from the Museum’s permanent collection, including many recent acquisitions, will illuminate the post’s founding in the fall of 1918 and early development before its explosive growth during World War II. through March 2019, Legacy Gallery, The Columbus Museum, 1251 Wynnton Road

Match-Ups: Networks on Paper Dialogue

This exhibition presents a selection of prints, drawings, and photographs that were donated to The Columbus Museum in the past two and a half years.

Displayed in pairs or trios, these works on paper affirm and extend art historian Heinrich Wölfflin’s belief that bringing objects together, rather than studying them individually and without context, draws attention to similarities and differences in subject, media, and style. These visual parallels and disparities then help produce a more complex understanding of human cultural production.

July 7 through Nov. 11, 2018, Woodruff Gallery, The Columbus Museum, 1251 Wynnton Road

Summer Camps at Bare Ware Pottery Studio

Drop of your kids for two hours of creative fun. Clay on July 6, fused glass on July 13, canvas July 20, board art on July 28. $20 plus tax per child, per day.

Ages 6 and up. RSVP. Every Friday, 3 p.m., Bare Ware Pottery Studio, 3912 Woodruff Road, Columbus

Ohana Nights: Family Craft Hour

From pretzel palaces to marshmallow moats, let the Library supply all the goodies you need for your family to make something fun. July 5 & 19, 6:30 p.m., Columbus Public Library, 3000 Macon Road, Columbus LocaL

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In Conversation with Bo Bartlett

isn’t this fantastic?

TI: It’s the coolest thing I’ve seen in quite a while.

BB: There’s John Singer Sargent’s portrait of Robert Louis Stevenson and his wife. So that’s one of the influences—there are many—but for each painting we just chose the primary one. Also, this table is a tableaux from looks like a painting by Andrew Wyeth called “Groundhog Day.” So that was the inspiration for that. Then there’s the Arnolfini Wedding Portrait by Van Eyck; has the chandelier between the married couple, and there’s the viewer’s reflection up there as well.

It’s a combination of all these things, all these styles and interests that I have. I did it in ’84, and I was just getting started and feeling comfortable doing the larger scale paintings. I had my first show in Philadelphia in 1980, and that show also came to the Columbus Museum in 1981. I had some large scale paintings then, but by this point in ’84 I was really sort of on the hose and feeling comfortable.

TI: This one seems like an interesting place to talk about dualisms and how they are synthesized or resolved. She’s very well dressed, the gold neckless, he’s obviously very dapper in the suit, yet I notice this is the simplest card table that everybody has.

So choices like this are always interesting to me.

BB: It wasn’t by accident. Everything in a painting has a purpose and a reason to be there, and I choose those subjects carefully. I wanted it to feel like the house that I was born in, which was actually over there on Bamboo Street in Columbus, over by Rigdon Road. I lived there until I was two-and-a-half, and I do remember it. I remember the feeling of the house. When I did this painting, I wanted to set it in that location, but I wanted it to feel rather—ghostly isn’t the right word. But timeless, in a way. My parents weren’t this age when they lived in that house; this is the age they were when I painted them, thirty-plus years after they lived there. But I wanted them to feel like they were temporarily inhabiting the house. And that was actually my mother’s card table, and I watched her play bridge on it many, many times, so I borrowed that from her.

TI: So we have her table, and there’s some china, which seem more of a feminine choice than a masculine option.

BB: And there was another chair there which I took out in the bottom left side, which would have been his chair. Temporary furniture in this nicer kind of space. The space where I had them pose was actually here on Broadway. I rented a studio one summer above where Picasso’s Pizza is, in those loft spaces. I did several paintings there. I did the studies there, actually went back to Philadelphia, finished it in my studio up there. But it was set in this space.

TI: Why don’t we move over here and talk about “Young Life;” what do you think?”u

“Parents” This second part of our interview series with acclaimed artist Bo Bartlett comes from an interview we conducted while he showed us around the Bo Bartlett Center, 921 Front Avenue, in May of this year. Our first installment found Bo discussing how the Center came to be and some of his feelings on art, particularly the way art can unite communities. In this part of the interview, we visit a specific painting currently hanging in the Center.

Tom Ingram: They’re your parents.

Bo Bartlett: They are my parents. It’s my mother and my father. I tell people, it’s a self portrait in a way because all we are is our parents put together, the male and the female, put ‘em together and that’s what we get. It’s the DNA; that’s where we come from. The paintings [in the Center] are often about a union of opposites, mostly. Most of them, whether it’s black-white, male-female, light-dark.

My father was more gregarious. You see him looking out at us. My mom’s much more sort of calm and still. And he’s wearing the flag lapel pin, while she’s wearing this calm green coat, looks like it’s from The Masters or something. Her eyes are closed. So you’ve got these two sides—but the distance between them is an actual part of the painting, that’s the entity, the space between them. And there’s this pretty packed energy in that space, on the wall, the white on that wall.

He’s got the window, going outward, because he’s more outward looking. She’s got the dark, dark doorway because she’s much more reserved. And in between them is a table, and that table—a lot of the paintings [in the Center] are inspired by other paintings. One of the great things about what we’ve done [at the Center] is we’ve used this app, the HP Reveal App*, you can go up to each painting and you put your phone up to the painting and the app tells you what painting inspired what you see here.

TI: What wonderful magic is this? [Note: I was unaware of the HP Reveal app at the time of this interview. It’s an awesome app. Get it. Use it. Test it out at the Bo Bartlett Center, even!]

BB: There’s a particular painting by John Singer Sargent—I know LocaL

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World Cup of Cinema

No Shame Theatre

Round 2: Germany vs. Argentina

At 10:30 every Friday night, the Springer plays host to No Shame Theatre. e conclude our World Cup of Cinema with a rematch of the final game from No Shame Theatre is an uncensored evening of original performance that the 2014 soccer World Cup: Germany and Argentina. As with soccer, both 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 nations are formidable forces in international film.

Argentina is home to the current best soccer player in the world, Leonel Messi, material. Admission is $5, including for performers. Every Friday, Springer and, in my opinion, the world’s top film director, Lucrecia Martel. Her movies are Opera House, 103 10th Street, Columbus, (706) 324-5714 like great works of literature, dense allegories about her nation and its perpetual class Crown and Comedy at The Loft struggles. Her debut, La Ciénaga (FS), focuses on a middle class family in northern Two comedy shows every Thursday night, from 7 - 8:30 p.m. and 9 - 10:30 p.m., Argentina during a stretch of the summer rainy season. The family’s matriarch with new comedians every week and hosted by our very own Lil Bit. Enjoy $7 spends her days in bed, drinking wine and Crown Royal and ordering from the full menu. Ensure seats by buying tickets complaining about the family’s Indian at theloft.com. Every Thursday, The Loft, 1032 Broadway, Columbus maid, while her children run wild in and Jungle Book out of the house and the surrounding Presented by the Georgia Repertory Theatre, a partnership between the Springer Opera hillsides. Their crumbling estate is House and Columbus State University’s Department of Theatre. Nestled in the jungle perilously messy, not even remotely up of India, Mowgli is a boy who has been raised by wolves. Banished by the ferocious to code, and there’s an air of constant tiger Sherakhan, Mowgli learns the laws of the jungle from his partner and friend, danger around them; thunder and gun Bagheera, and discovers his place among the animals. He discovers that real friends are shots are always rumbling in the distance. not determined by the pack you’re born into, but the pack you choose. Mowgli must The plot is subtle, difficult to follow, but choose whether to defy the law of the jungle or leave his home forever. Sponsored by the end it leaves patient viewers with

by The McClure Family Foundation and Pezold Management. July 6 - 22, Springer a feeling of having witnessed something Opera House, 103 10th Street, Columbus wholly unique and profound.

In truth, you have to watch Martel’s films more than once to really get them. The Way Down Film Society Beat the summer heat by watching the 2014 indie crime thriller Cold In July. When director purposely tries to disorient viewers with her narrative ellipses, beguiling a small-town business owner kills an intruder in his home, he unwittingly becomes frame compositions, and ghostly sound designs. Her third film, The Headless entangled in a criminal conspiracy. The film features Michael C. Hall (Dexter), Sam Woman (A), begins with an upper middle class woman hitting something while Shepard and Don Johnson. Bring the food and drink of your choice, watch the film driving distracted. We never know if it’s a kid or a dog, because she decides to keep and join the post-screening discussion. For more information, contact Scott Phillips at driving without looking back. For the rest of the film, she loses her mind a bit as she waydownfilmsociety@gmail.com. July 18, 6 p.m., Troy University—Phenix City, 1510 comes to terms with what she’s done, which she does in a most unsettling way. Like La Ciénaga , the film can be seen as a metaphor for Argentina – both its dark past, Whitewater Avenue, Phenix City when the upper and middle classes ignored the atrocities of the dictatorship of the 4th Annual Springer Theatre Academy TEACHaret Benefit 70s, and its present struggles with class divisions and racism.

Enjoy a night of performances presented by the diversely talented and incredible Great as Martel and Argentinian cinema are, in the end they’re no match for Springer Theater Academy Staff in Emily Woodruff Hall (main stage) at the Springer Germany, which has been a film powerhouse since the early days of the silent era, Opera House. This variety / cabaret-style show will feature live music, musical theatre home to such great directors as Friedrich W. Murnau, Fritz Lang, Leni Riefenstahl, numbers, solo pieces, movement pieces, spoken word and more. All money raised will Margarethe von Trotta, Wim Wenders, Werner Herzog, and, above all, Rainer benefit the Wise Investment Program, a scholarship fund established in honor of Ron Werner Fassbinder, who is arguably the greatest filmmaker of all time. He was Anderson, the founder of the Springer Theatre Academy. Donations to this fund will certainly the most prolific. In a career that spanned just 13 years before his death at provide full tuition to underprivileged children, so they may experience the Academy. age 37, Fassbinder made nearly 30 films. He started off in the late 60s doing highly No advanced ticket sales; suggested $10 donation at the door. All ages are encouraged experimental films, but in the early 70s, inspired by Douglas Sirk, he started making to attend. Concessions will be offered. July 19, 7 - 9 p.m., Springer Opera House, 103 melodramas aimed at critiquing German society, and these are some of the most 10th Street, Columbus profound and interesting works of the 20th Century.

It can be difficult to know where to start with Fassbinder. A lot of his fans The Roast of Jim Pharr Jim’s been running the ship that is No Shame for 7 years at The Springer, and since suggest starting with Ali: Fear Eats the Soul (K) or Fox and His Friends (FS). he’s leaving, we need to make him cry. We’d love for you to relish in his sadness with us. The former is the tale of a white woman in her 60s who has a love affair with a Come see what your favorite No Shame comedians have pushed deep down inside their black man half her age, and the reactions of her family and community around her emotional psyches. $5, 18 and up. July 21, 9 p.m. - midnight, No Shame Theatre, reveal the racism that lay barely hidden in German society. The latter is the first and perhaps only film ever with all gay characters that isn’t about them being gay. In it, The Springer Opera House, 103 10th Street, Columbus a working class guy wins the lottery and falls in love with an upper class man who, Want to see your event listed here? Email events@thelocalcolumbus.com

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along with his snobby friends, string the newly rich man along and take him for all he’s worth. But my favorite is The Bitter Tears of Petra Von Kant (K). Shot entirely

in one room, it’s a drama about an aging beauty who falls madly in love with a younger woman who is indifferent to her. Margit Carstensen gives a tour de force performance as the jilted lover, and despite the claustrophobic setting, the style of the film is quite satisfyingly cinematic.

Advantage: Germany F S =F ilmStruck; A=Amazo n; K=Kano py Joe Miller is an Associate Professor of English at Columbus State and a certified film freak.

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Open Mic Hosted by Matt Kirkley

Do you play an acoustic instrument and/or sing? Come out and showcase your talent. All musicians wishing to play must sign-up in advance. Sign ups are at 7:00 at The Loft. Every Wednesday, 8 p.m., The Loft, 1032 Broadway, Columbus

Musical Instrument Petting Zoo

Get up close and personal with a variety of guitars, keyboards, drums and other instruments from around the world. July 5, 4 - 5 p.m., North Columbus Public Library, 5689 Armour Road, Columbus

Trey Guthrie & the Dirt Road Republic @ Soho July 6, 8 p.m., Soho Bar & Grill, 5751 Milgen Road, Columbus

Alabama Avenue at Dock’s - Lake Harding July 6, 8 p.m., Dock’s, 9883 Lee Road 379, Valley, Al.

Outlaw Redemption at Soho

July 7, 10:30 p.m., Soho Bar & Grill, 5751 Milgen Road, Columbus

The Georgia Flood at The Loft

July 7, 9 p.m., The Loft, 1032 Broadway, Columbus

Booyah Presents: Variant, Section 8, Crude Carter, P!ko & DP @ The Estate July 13, 8 p.m. - 2 a.m., The Estate, 1231 Midway Drive, Columbus

Alabama Avenue at Scruffy Murphy’s

July 13, 9 p.m., Scruffy Murphy’s Irish Pub and Eatery, 1037 Broadway, Columbus

The Brown Goose at The Loft

July 14, 9 p.m., The Loft, 1032 Broadway, Columbus

Summer Concert Series, feat. East Wind Bluegrass Band

Music and art collide. In addition to the music, enjoy free guided tours of the Museum’s collection provided by staff and docents. Bring a picnic dinner or purchase one from one of our featured food trucks. July 19, 6 - 8 p.m., The Columbus Museum, 1251 Wynnton Road

Tequila Mocking Bird at Soho

July 19, 10:30 p.m., Soho Bar & Grill, 5751 Milgen Road, Columbus

Odd Alice at The Tavern

July 20, 8:30 p.m., The Tavern, 6298 Veterans Parkway, Columbus

Money $hot at Wild Wing Cafe

July 20, 9:30 p.m. - 12:30 a.m., Wild Wing Cafe, 6525 Whittlesey Road, Columbus

Alabama Avenue at Soho

July 20, 10:30 p.m., Soho Bar & Grill, 5751 Milgen Road, Columbus

Rhapsody in Bloom - Jazz in the Garden

Hosted by local news and television personality Dee Armstrong and radio personality Wane Hailes, Rhapsody in Bloom brings together spectacular local talent. Jazz enthusiasts enjoying the ultimate date night will be treated to the sounds of Columbus State University’s Schwob School of Music’s Jazz Ensemble, Jamysa “Hummingbird” Lyte and The Tony Parkman Revue. As music lovers enter the gates of the Columbus Botanical Garden, they will be treated to the soothing sounds of saxophonist Warren Thornton, who will stroll the Garden and serenade guests. Find tickets on Facebook and Eventbrite. July 22, 5 - 9 p.m., Columbus Botanical Garden, 3603 Weems Road

Roshambeaux at The Loft

July 28, 9:30 p.m., The Loft, 1032 Broadway, Columbus

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

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Uptown Market Days

Every Saturday, as many as 170 local and regional vendors set up shop along Broadway in Uptown Columbus. Join one of the southeast’s best farmers markets. Every Saturday, 9 a.m., Broadway, Uptown Columbus

Astronomy Nights at Callaway Gardens

Join the Coca-Cola Space Science Center at Callaway Gardens for summer Astronomy Night Programming. Rosa Williams, Ph.D., and her students offer a fantastic journey through the universe. Every Monday, 9 p.m., Overlook Pavilion, Callaway Gardens, 17800 US Highway 27, Pine Mountain, Ga.

Farmers Market w/ Russell County AI Extension

July 5 & 12, noon - 6 p.m.; July 7, 8 a.m. - noon; July 14, 19, 21, 26 & 28, 1 - 4 p.m.; Russell County AI Extension, 508 14th Street, Phenix City, Al.

Columbus Lions Block Party

Hosted by Collision Surgeons of Columbus and The Outskirts Sports Bar and Grill, enjoy a day filled with tailgating, a cruise-in, kids zone and live bands.

Prizes and contests all day. July 7, 11 a.m. - 10 p.m., Columbus Civic Center, 400 4th Street

Summer Heatwave Festival & Vendor Market

Help raise money for CherAmi Farms Horsemanship Community Outreach Program, in Seale, Al., a veteran-founded nonprofit program to uplift youth through equine and agricultural education. Vendors will be on hand inside and out. Though usually closed on Sunday, The Hungry Hillbilly will be open and cooking up their delicious food, and will have children’s activities, including bouncy house. July 8, noon - 5 p.m., The Hungry Hillbilly, 2901 University Avenue, Columbus

Magic Mike Tour at Buck Wild Saloon

July 14, 8:30 - 11:30 p.m., The Buck Wild Saloon, 17695 US Highway 280 E, Smiths Station, Al.

North Highland Farmers Market

Hosted by UGA Extension Columbus and MercyMed of Columbus, this farmers market offers free SNAP registration and a wide assortment of fresh fruits and vegetables. July 18 & Aug. 1, 4 p.m., MercyMed of Columbus, 3702 2nd Avenue, Columbus

YP Decennial Celebration

Join the Young Professionals as they celebrate ten years. Current and former YP members, $20; non-YP members, $25. Appetizers, drinks, DJ and The Chemistry Project Band included in the ticket price. Visit columbusgachamber. com for tickets. July 20, 7 p.m. - midnight, 900 Front Avenue, Columbus

WWE Live SummerSlam Heatwave Tour

July 27, 7:30 p.m., Columbus Civic Center, 400 4th Avenue, Columbus

Phoenix Entertainment & Alvin D. Presents 3rd Annual Tri-City Entertainment Awards

BossLadii of Phoenix Entertainment and Alvin D. Bring you the 3rd Annual TCEA. Red carpet from 6 to 7 p.m., awards presentations from 7 to 9 p.m., and after party runs 9 to 11 p.m. Buffet-style dinner will be served. Enjoy live performances, guest speakers and many awards. Hosted by Contanek. Jul 29, 6 - 11 p.m., The Liberty Theatre Cultural Center, 821 8th Avenue, Columbus Want to see your event listed here? Email events@thelocalcolumbus.com LocaL

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response Jen believes extended Ryan’s life by six months. The Giving Kitchen grew out of this experience. Through the continued leadership of the Hidinger family, donors, partners, staff and board, The Giving Kitchen has awarded more than 1,000 Crisis Grants to restaurant workers in need of emergency assistance.

Until 2018, The Giving Kitchen operated only in the Atlanta area; Juliana is the first of many grantees Bryan Schroeder, Executive Director, hopes to help in the Columbus area by reimbursing restaurant workers with expenses during times of crisis.

Bryan calls Yalla “world Staplehouse class partners.” Yalla, a Columbus public relations firm founded by Stephanie Woodham and Katie Bishop, organized the first Restaurant Week in 2016. Responding to our area’s booming restaurant scene, Katie explains she and Stephanie wanted to find ways to promote and celebrate that scene. Presented by partner US Foods, Restaurant Week 2018 ( July 23 through 29) highlights locally owned and operated restaurants with a full week of affordable and delicious culinary events.

Participating restaurants will showcase some of their best dishes with prix fixe menus for locals and visitors alike. This year, revenue from Restaurant Week,

Restaurant Week 2018

through local partnerships, Atlanta-based nonprofit The Giving Kitchen provides emergency assistance to restaurant workers in times of crisis

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uliana Cowart was working in the service industry when she learned she needed surgery. What she could not predict was how the doctors, when they went in for exploratory, would need to correct a hernia and remove her appendix. Abdominal surgery is complicated and often dangerous. Juliana’s situation, unfortunately, is not uncommon. Her full recovery time was supposed to be six weeks, but there were complications. The complications were not medical. First, to prepare for missing work ahead of surgery, Juliana took extra

“Even for those like Juliana who go above and beyond to provide for herself in this grueling business, just a few days out of work can mean very quickly finding one’s self out of home, too.”

shifts, straining an already precarious medical situation. Second, Juliana could not survive without working; she returned to work after two weeks. For many service industry workers, bills hang in the day-to-day balance of customer’s whimsy—to tip or not to tip, and then how much, is often the difference between a server’s ability to pay rent and utilities on time or not. Even for those like Juliana who go above and beyond to provide for herself in this grueling business, just a few days out of work can mean very quickly finding one’s self out of home, too.

Ask anyone who has spent time in the service industry. They know tragic stories of respected coworkers experience medical problems, or even domestic abuse, who have no choice but to miss work. More often than not, these stories

Ryan & Jen Hidinger

have unhappy endings. One Atlanta-based nonprofit, however, is working hard to turn these tragic tales around.

In Dec. 2012, Chef Ryan Hidinger—beloved in the Atlanta restaurant community for his work at Bacchanalia, Floataway Café, Muss & Turners and the supper club he operated with his wife, Jen, called Staplehouse—was diagnosed with stage four cancer. The diagnosis was devastating, but the restaurant industry and larger community rallied to Ryan and Jen. The outpouring of love and financial support helped cover expenses not covered by insurance, a LocaL

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in addition to promoting participating restaurants across multiple platforms, will also go to supporting The Giving Kitchen’s vital work.

“No one in Columbus knew [The Giving Kitchen] existed,” Juliana said.

Except, it seems, her sister, who suggested Juliana apply for the grant. “I was looking at medical bills; it was evident I wouldn’t be able to work,” Juliana said, so following the chance conversation with her sister, she read up about The Giving Kitchen. “They saw this major gap,” Juliana said, “and filled it.” Paying Staplehouse-Trio for the surgery would be an enormous burden, and as abdominal surgery complications can often mean a second surgery, which Juliana knew she could not afford, The Giving Kitchen grant, which helped reimburse her with rent and utilities, was the difference between having a place to live and not.

“We know the need is there,” said Bryan.

“We need to get the word out about services.”

Being new to the area may present obstacles, but Yalla’s decision to highlight The Giving Kitchen during Restaurant Week, which will connect thousands of people to restaurants and the nonprofit, is exactly the sort of partnership Bryan says is vital to his organization’s mission. “We want to get the right amount of money, to the right people, at the right time,” Bryan said. In the first year servicing the Columbus community, Bryan hopes to help between 6 and ten Jul y 2018

service industry workers.

The average grant awarded by The Giving Kitchen is about $1,800, which shows just how precarious the life of a service industry worker can be. For Juliana, who received a little less than the average grant, the difference was crucial to her stability as her health hung in the balance. By bringing together The Giving Kitchen with local restaurants, Yalla’s work with Restaurant Week—and your support of the many excellent events—will have a direct, dramatic and positive impact on the lives of local, hardworking individuals and families.

Among the many Restaurant Week events this year, a new kick-off party at Trevioli Italian Kitchen (7466 Blackmon Road) will connect service industry workers from all over the Columbus area with The Giving Kitchen staff,

Morten’s at Old Town 3580 Massee Lane, Columbus Mortensoldtown.com Bare Roots Farmacy 105 12th Street, Columbus

““If you’ve never worked in the service industry,” Juliana said, “you won’t understand how demanding it is.””

like Bryan. The kick-off event will, Katie says, “help build the camaraderie in Columbus that the Giving Kitchen has helped build in Atlanta.” Katie explained, “this year’s focus is all about the service industry workers.”

Jen Hedinger, who now serves as spokesperson for The Giving Kitchen, will be on-hand this year to help build the vital bridges between workers, owners and the nonprofit that have made The Giving Kitchen such a success in Atlanta. Everyone can be on-hand to help by participating in any of Restaurant Week’s events.

This year, Katie was excited to tell us to expect brunch and lunch events in addition to dinners. Participating restaurants have seen a 60% sales increase in past years, and with this year’s charitable focus, we hope the return is even more astounding. Look forward to a Young Professionals-sponsored “3 Fix Mafia” cocktail crawl on Thursday, where participants can enjoy three specialty cocktails for $3 each. In all, Katie expects as many as 30 restaurants to participate. we will print the full list as it stands at time of print, but there is still time for your restaurant to join the week’s festivities and help support the hardworking individuals of the service industry.

“If you’ve never worked in the service industry,” Juliana said, “you won’t understand how demanding it is.” When we asked her what she would say to a service industry worker who found themselves in her shoes, Juliana laughed— we found her in high spirits, determined, a profound spokesperson both for service industry workers and The Giving Kitchen. “Call The Giving Kitchen,” she said. Duh! “Awareness is so important.”

Getting involved with The Giving Kitchen is easy; just pick up the phone— (404) 254-1227. On their website, thegivingkitchen.org, you will find many ways to pitch in under the “Support” menu tab, including volunteering, partnership opportunities, donations and more.

For service industry workers who may need help, just call. It’s that simple.

Everything can be arranged over the phone. (404) 254-1227.

For Restaurant Week updates, check visitcolumbusga.com/restaurant-week We want to thank Katie Bishop and Stephanie Woodham of Yalla for connecting everyone, Bryan Schoeder and all of The Giving Kitchen staff for their phenomenal work, and most of all Juliana Cowart for her bravery and grit through hardship and for telling her story. Ya’ll the real MVPs; we are just so grateful to tell the story. u

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B. Merrell’s 7600 Veterans Parkway, Columbus Bmerrells.net 11th and Bay 1050 Bay Avenue, Columbus 11thandbay.com Epic Restaurant 1201 Front Avenue, Columbus epiccuisine.com

River & Rail 1232 Broadway, Columbus riverandrailga.com

Wicked Hen 1350 13th Street, Columbus wickedhenrestaurant.com

Bluewater Grill 4640 Warm Springs Road, Columbus bluewatergrillandbar.com

The Cannon Brew Pub 1041 Broadway, Columbus Houlihan’s 800 Front Avenue, Columbus 5351 Sidney Simons Boulevard houlihans.com The Loft 1032 Broadway, Columbus theloft.com

The Kitchen at Rose Cottage 111 Broad Street, Pine Mountain, Ga. Caffe Amici 2301 Airport Thruway, Columbus The Hangout Bar & Grill 6060 Veterans Parkway, Columbus

MaBella’s Italian Steakhouse 14 West 11th Street, Columbus mabellas.com Trevioli Italian Kitchen 7466 Blackmon Road, Columbus trevioliitaliankitchen.com Smoke Bourbon and BBQ 1047 Broadway, Columbus smokebourbonandbbq.com The Black Cow 115 12th Street, Columbus theblackcowga.com Jul y 2018

This local shift mirrors national trends toward environmental awareness in the 1970s, when acid rain and Lake Erie catching on fire led President Nixon to form the Environmental Protection Agency. That same decade, Jimmy Carter—first as governor, then as president—enacted the Wild and Scenic designation to protect rivers still unspoiled from industry and pollution from any future development. This landmark legislation will be celebrated this month in Columbus in its namesake Wild and Scenic Film Festival.

The Chattahoochee does not fit the terms of the Wild and Scenic designation because it’s always served Columbus as a working (read: economically empowering through industry) river, explains Trees Columbus Executive Director Dorothy McDaniel. However, she notes that her organization’s overall mission and hosting of the Wild and Scenic Film Festival go hand in hand with mission of the Chattahoochee River Conservancy, a fellow non-profit housed in the Spencer Environmental Center downtown.

“The Wild & Scenic Film Festival is a unique Help the Hooch opportunity to bring people together who are energized about the environment and the outdoors and foster a community of members, volunteers and advocates,” McDaniel states. “These films are a call to action for the challenges facing our planet, and inspiration for our communities to protect the environment and the places we love.”

Arguably what Columbus loves most about its river today is its recreational opportunities. Jackson says “the future of the river is recreation” but adds that the “revolutionary” project to breach the dams in 2012 was born of environmental interest more than the vast recreational potential it unleashed.

The organic cohesion of environmental and recreational efforts now underway is revealed in the collaboration between the CRC, Whitewater Express and owners of the Nearly Native plant nursery in metro Atlanta to

Wild & Scenic Way Down Yonder On The Chattahoochee “Absolutely I love my job,” hattahoochee River Conservancy Executive Director Henry Jackson says during a 15-minute interview on the front porch of the marina at Rotary Park. “Some days I’d rather be changing oil in an open pit in 90-degree weather but, yes, I love my job.”

Having just pulled the CRC’s boat out of the water following a 90-minute excursion—an educational and insightful experience due to his keen observations and scholarly knowledge of the Chattahoochee’s health, habitat and history— Jackson says the head of any non-profit organization such as his “has to do anything and everything.” His job duties including “accounting, boat mechanic, PR, photographer, scientist.” Having turned a passion for whitewater recreation into his current role almost two years ago, Jackson says all these efforts serve the CRC mission to “restore and protect the Chattahoochee River through education, advocacy and science.”

On the excursion, Jackson pointed out spots where the striped bass were biting that hot Friday morning last month, along with wildlife sightings Henry Jackson (osprey, blue herons, white-tailed deer) and relics (massive crumbling docks, a sunken oil-tanker barge) of Columbus’ industrial past. He says to understand the state of the Chattahoochee today, one must venture south of downtown.

The styrofoam cups, plastic bottles and to-go food boxes collecting along the banks where Bull Creek empties into the river represent the biggest environmental challenge today. Further south, a riverbank where the National Infantry Museum gleams on the horizon represents how Columbus has come in taking care of its most valuable natural resource.

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Green Island Hills

Rotary Park

“The old city landfill was literally right here,” Jackson says. “I see it as a monument to how much Columbus’s views of the river have changed. We used to dump our trash here. But now we clean it up and actively make a space for people to come and enjoy. It’s now something we want to preserve and protect and value as an important part of our lives.”

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re-establish the endangered spider lily in the shoals that form the river rapids adjacent to downtown, which before 19th century development held the largest concentration of these precious blooms in the United States.

“Our spider lily project is going great,” Dan Gilbert, owner of Whitewater Express, explains via email. “We have about 500 living plants in the river and have just harvested 900 seeds two weeks ago. We have a 25 percent success rate with our planting in the river!”

Given all this positive momentum, the fact that human behavior—the collective mindset of ignorance—is the biggest threat facing the Chattahoochee today is disturbing.

“Efforts to bring awareness to the problem of litter as far as protecting the quality of the river are constant and ongoing,” says Keep Columbus Beautiful Jul y 2018

Eddy at Waveshaper Island

Commission Executive Director Gloria Weston-Smart, whose organization leads the volunteer Help the Hooch trash removal every fall. “It’s very difficult to change the behavior of adults, so we focus a lot on education for students kindergarten though fifth grade about the importance of protecting our water.”

Another major misconception, according to Jackson, is that the water quality of the Chattahoochee today is bad.

“When I was working as a guide, I’d hear all the time: ‘I’d never kayak in that river. It’s nasty.

It’s Atlanta’s sewer,’” he recalls. “That’s not true and now I have proof. We take water samples every Wednesday [the CRC monitors from seven locations on Lake Harding, three on Lake Oliver and three along the urban whitewater course]. So now I can say, ‘The water’s clean and here’s the data.’ As long as we take care of the river, it’ll be clean. And it can get cleaner.”

How so?

“Pick up your trash,” Jackson answers. “Pretty simple, really—behave like an adult.”

He adds that, despite all the progress made and the current healthy water quality, the community must remain vigilant. “The river was pretty gross, pretty nasty, back in the day,” Jackson says. “But the river we have now? The fishing is excellent. The birding is excellent. It’s a great place to canoe, kayak or go tubing. And all that is possible because Columbus now holds the river in high esteem. But if that slides backwards, we’ll be back to where we were 20, 30 years ago. And all that will be gone.”

View “The Wild President” and other acclaimed ecoconscious films plus parties and special guest panels during the Wild & Scenic Film Festival, to be held July 27-28 at CSU’s Bay Gallery and Riverside Theater. u

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they’ve got you covered C

hester of Atomic Tattoo isn’t one to boast. He is the first to credit other tattoo parlors for being, like his own shop, clean, modern and staffed with genuine talent. His advice to those interested in getting a tattoo is to look at the individual artist’s portfolio.

Luckily for those interested in getting a tattoo, Atomic Tattoo and sister shop Iron Rose both have excellent artists who excel in just about every style. Whether you’re looking for a custom piece, touch up or piercings, Chester and his team have you covered—or, rather, can get you covered. Drop in and let Chester and his team get you started.

Atomic Tattoo, 4393 Victory Drive in Columbus, is conveniently located to Fort Benning, and has been a go-to parlor for service members and locals alike since opening in 2012. Chester started tattooing seven years ago. After years working in graphic design, he began looking for a change. Donie Schrecengost, who has been tattooing for some 25 years, became his mentor. This mentorship allowed Chester to get out from behind a computer screen, to pursue a more hands-on career. Today, Atomic Tattoo is regarded as a premier area tattoo parlor.

Since acquiring Iron Rose Tattoo, 4022 Victory Drive, in 2016, Chester, with partner Donie and their team, have been able to expand their top-tier operation, offering their services to even more people. Two locations means Chester can employ more excellent artists, giving his customers an even greater range of options when searching for the right artist for the work they want.

When looking for new body art, take your time. Find the right artist. With so many excellent, experienced artists, Atomic and Iron Rose are the perfect place to begin your search. u Justin

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talk on basics of attracting both to your yard. Meet at Park Office. Event is free.

Every Friday, 9:30 a.m., Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park, 2970 GA Highway 190, Pine Mountain, Ga.

Big Dog Heatwave 5 Miler

Stream Quest

Dip in and get your shoes wet as you discover our stream inhabitants. Seine for crayfish and net a salamander. $4, ages 4 and up. Meet right of pool playground.

Every Wednesday; Aug. 1; 10 - 11 a.m., Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park, 2970 GA Highway 190, Pine Mountain, Ga.

Fly Fishing 101

Learn the different rods, flies and other gear, and most importantly, how to cast. Guides will be on hand, but please call ahead: (706) 321-4720. Every Thursday, Whitewater Express, 1000 Bay Avenue, Columbus

Chattahoochee Challenge Kids Fun Run

Join TriColumbusGA for the second annual kids fun run, for ages 3 to thirteen, a chance to feel the excitement of the weekend’s competition while enjoying the outdoors and promoting healthy living. July 13, 7 - 8 p.m., Woodruff Park, 1000 Bay Avenue, Columbus

Honey Harvest

Waterlife Wonders

Use our dip nets and scopes to investigate and identify life in our lake. Interesting discoveries of frogs, fish and macinvertebrates. Meet next to fishing dock in the campground. $4 per person over age 3. Every Friday, 5 p.m., Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park, 2970 GA Highway 190, Pine Mountain, Ga.

Map and Compass 101

Investigate map and learn how to use a compass through group activities and games. Geared toward ages 8 to adult. $4. Meet at stone shelter at the end of the pool parking lot. Every Friday, 10 a.m., Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park, 2970 GA Highway 190, Pine Mountain, Ga.

Birds and Butterflies

Help us monitor our bluebird boxes and butterfly garden. Short walk and brief

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This point-to-point race runs 5 miles, beginning at the Lake Oliver Marina and finishing in front of Big Dog Fleet Feet in Uptown Columbus, benefits MercyMed of Columbus. Runners are encouraged to park near the finish and enjoy the bus transport to the starting line; first bus leaves at 7 a.m. and last at 7:45 a.m.. Cost is $25 in advance, $30 day of race. Race start is 8 a.m.. Many awards will be given. Visit runsignup.com for tickets. July 7, 8 - 11 a.m., Big Dog Fleet Feet, 1200 Broadway, Columbus

Learn about beekeeping and the process of extracting and bottling honey with the expert and excellent staff of Columbus State University’s Oxbow Meadows Environmental Learning Center. July 15, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., CSU’s Oxbow Meadows, 3535 South Lumpkin Road, Columbus

Chattahoochee Challenge Sprint Triathlon and Duathlon

The perfect race for beginnings. The 500 meter event starts at 8 a.m. in Uptown with a time trial start down the water slide. Duathletes start at 8:10 a.m. with a one-mile run. The 12-mile bike route is flat and runs through historic Columbus. Finish with a 5k run and water slide to the finish. There are plenty of place along the route for family and friends to cheer, and all will find ample fun activities on Saturdays in Uptown to enjoy during and after the race.

July 15, 8 a.m. - noon, Woodruff Park, 1000 Bay Avenue, Columbus Want to see your event listed here? Email events@thelocalcolumbus.com

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Featuring bands Futurbirds, Alvin Youngbood Hart’s Muscle Theory, BB Palmer, Nikki & the Phantom Callers, and Brett McDaniel and the Fellers.

World Class barbecue vendors include Ban Stewart of White Oak Pastures, Chef Brian Cosby of Cosby-Que, Butcher Paper BBQ and other special guests.

Tickets $20. Children under 14 free. Bring chairs. Small coolers okay (event is BYOB). No glass, no dogs. July 28, 11 a.m. - 8:30 p.m., Standard Deluxe, 1015 Mayberry Avenue, Waverly, Al.

WHERE ARE ALL THE FOOD & DRINK EVENTS?

Food Truck Friday w/ Q107.3

Join The Liberty Theatre Cultural Center on Friday, July 6 from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. for this fun collaboration with local radio station, Q107.3. A variety of food trucks will be available, and you are encouraged to enjoy the meal in the Center’s banquet room. July 6, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., The Liberty Theatre Cultural Center, 821 8th Avenue, Columbus

Free Backcountry Cooking with Chef Austin Scott

Don’t we know Restaurant Week is in July? You bet we do, and that’s why we wrote a big ol’ story about Restaurant Week, a really important story, because it talks about The Giving Kitchen, a nonprofit that helps service industry workers when they get sick or can’t work. Check out page # for the story and visitcolumbusga. com/restaurant-week for more updates.

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

Tired of eating MREs on the trail? Pre-packaged food too expensive? Stop by our cooking class and learn how to cook in the backcountry like a chef, from a chef. This will be an interactive cooking display with sampling. Event is free.

July 7, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m., Outside World, 1025 Broadway, Columbus

SUDS = StartUp Drinks for Entrepreneurs

Social drinking club with a StartUp problem. This group of creative minds comes together to socialize and develop entrepreneurship networks. Have fun, build relationships and change the world, one drink at a time. July 10, 5:30 8:30 p.m., Buckhead Bar & Grill, 5010 Armour Road, Columbus

Heart of Waverly BBQ Festival

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In blender, combine cucumber chunks, mint leaves, lemon juice and sugar. Puree until smooth.

Fill two glasses with ice. Add two ounces gin, and several cucumber slices to each glass. Fill the glasses to 2/3 full with cucumber mixture. Top with club soda and stir well. Garnish with fresh mint.

Avocado Margarita

Cocktail Gardening

s I may have mentioned in a previous article, I A am a condo dweller. In many ways, I like condo living—I never have to paint, landscape, mow, replace

a roof or any of the myriad chores a homeowner enjoys. The trade-off being that I am also limited in what I can plant outside. Anything out back that is not on my porch is considered common area and property of the condo association, so I can’t put in a full-blown garden with rows and rows of fresh vegetables, and a huge patch of organically grown herbs. With that being said, I did get permission to arrange some containers outside my porch, and I now have a “container garden.” It is low yield and easy to maintain. I get just enough crop yield to enjoy fresh vegetables through the summer, put some up, and use some to experiment with in cocktails.

Here are a few fun “garden cocktails.”

Th e B eet Tw i st

½ cup of fresh beet juice (you can

buy beet juice if your beets aren’t ripe yet!)

¼ cup fresh squeezed

grapefruit juice 4 tbsp rosemary infused simple syrup** 3 Leopold’s Gin Soda water

Mix beet juice, grapefruit juice, simple syrup and gin together and pour into two ice-filled glasses. Top off with soda water and garnish with a rosemary sprig.

Feel free to adjust juice quantities according to personal taste. **to make rosemary simple syrup-bring ½ c water and ½ c sugar to a boil along with two rosemary sprigs. Turn off heat, let steep for 10 minutes, strain and cool.

1 ripe avocado, peeled & pitted 2 cups ice 4 oz El Jimador tequila 2 oz Cointreau 2 oz fresh lime juice ¼ cup cilantro leaves pinch of salt 1-3 tsp agave nectar 1-3 slices fresh jalapeno

Optional garnishes: lime wedges, cilantro, avocado slices. Add avocado, ice, tequila, Cointreau, lime juice, cilantro and salt to a blender. Pulse until smooth.

Taste, and add agave nectar to sweeten or jalapeno to add spice, as desired. Serve in salt rimmed glasses.

Garnish as desired.

C a r r ot G i n g e r C o c k t a i l

1 ½ oz Cruzan coconut rum ½ oz Cruzan aged rum 1 oz fresh squeezed carrot juice 2 oz Cointreau ½ oz fresh lime juice ¼ oz agave syrup 2 coins of sliced ginger

Muddle ginger in the bottom of cocktail shaker. Add ice to shaker. Add remaining ingredients and shake well. Double strain (to remove ginger) into ice-filled high ball glass. Garnish with carrot greens, lime zest, or carrot ribbons. Mama raised you to eat your vegetables. Now you can truthfully tell her you are getting a couple of servings of vegetables a day—and having a good time doing it.

by Richard Edwards,

R i c h a r d Ed wa r d s, S p i r i t s M a n a g e r, Uptown Wine & Spirits

Cucumber Mint Gin Coolers 6 oz Bombay Sapphire Gin 12 mint leaves, plus more for garnish 2 tbsp sugar ¼ cup fresh lemon juice Chilled club soda LocaL

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