Haunted Halloween at Atlanta History Center

Hauntings at Atlanta History Center.

The Member's Only Haunted Halloween Preview at Atlanta History Center was held on Oct. 23. Thrills and chills were all around as patrons chose their own adventure and strolled through the foggy gardens and haunted historic houses.

Classic Halloween Movie Screenings like "The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown," were ongoing at McElreath Hall.
 

Beloved Halloween characters and characters from favorite cartoons and children’s television shows graced Atlanta History Center Museum's Exhibition Hallway and taught everyone how to perform signature Halloween dances, including the Monster Mash and Thriller.
 

Back on the Smith Family Farm, the souls of the Blackstock brothers, who were killed during the siege on Atlanta, wandered around retracing their last steps. The Blackstock brothers were not alone – numerous creatures and phantoms, conjured up by several séances lurked around the farm, too.
 

Built over the remains of the old Collier Swamp, Swamp House (aka Swan House) was last inhabited in 1934 by the widow of Dedward Skinman, former head of the Peachtree Asylum and School of Taxidermy. Locals have noticed flickering lights, loud noises, and strange smells coming from the old Skinman property. A scout party attempted to enter Swamp House to uncover the cause. 

The widow of Dedward Skinman and her housekeeper.

The tortured spirits inhabiting the woods trying to entice you into joining them in their unearthly prison at the Witch's Dollhouse on Swan Woods Trail.
 

Overcome by madness, the Cannibal Carver Family continued their cannibalistic ways, targeting unwise hikers and tourists who wandered near their property, Wood Family Cabin.
 

Nana G's food truck provided meals for sale and cash bars were available.
 

Highlights below:

2015 Ossabaw Island Pig Roast and Art Auction

Guests feasting on the home of Eleanor "Sandy" West.

2015 Ossabaw Island Pig Roast & Art Auction, the annual fundraiser for The Ossabaw Island Foundation, was held on the lawn of the home of Eleanor "Sandy" West on Oct. 17.

Epting Events of Athens, Georgia, and Roger Parker and his "smokin'" crew prepared the feast. Auctioneer Daniel Epting coaxed over $29,300 from the generous bidders during the live auction which included the painting by Sandy West and Betsy Cain, Mark Frissell's Ossabowl created from walnut and alligator teeth and two Ossabaw Weekends. 

Artwork in the silent auction represented nearly every facet of life on the island, contributed an additional $27,675 to the bottom line. 

Event sponsors included:

The Broadfield Foundation

Georgia Power
King & Spalding

Sea Island 
BB&T Wealth
Cohen’s Retreat
SunTrust
Taqueria del Sol

Jenny Lynn & Waldo Bradley
Patty &Todd Deveau
Don Callahan Real Estate
eSavannah/Seimitsu
Tom & Sharon Fischer
Chris & Karen Knight
Ruth Knox
Rose Lane & Chuck Leavell
Rosemary Magee & Ron Grapevine
Moon River Brewing Company
Ted and Linda Moore
Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport
Steve & Rosalie Sanderson
Savannah Distributing
Seacrest Partners
Service Brewing Company
South State Bank
Lisa & Mason White
Wells Fargo/The Private Bank

Host Committee
Barbara Baker
Patricia Barmeyer
Linda & Carl Bleicken
Boaen Mechanical
Chatham Foundation
Kay Davis Dunn
Walker Gaultney
Bobby & Leigh Goff
John & Melanie Helmken
Cecil & Sandra Hudson
Walker Gaultney
Pat Ingle-Gillis
Chris & Rebecca Kirkpatrick
John & Megan Manly
Mermaid Cottages
Dr. Sidney & Colleen Smith
Southern Environmental Law Center
Zelda & Sheldon Tenenbaum
Weichert Realtors,/The Sumner Group
Suzie Williams

In addition, The Ossabaw Island Foundation gave special thanks to The Landings Association, Delegal Creek Marina at Skidaway Island, Bull River Cruises, Good Times Charters, Walks on Wassaw, Clean Coast, over  35 volunteers who worked behind the scenes for months, contributing artists, musicians, newcomers and returning guests. 

Korn's 20th Anniversary Tour at the Tabernacle in Atlanta on Oct. 14

Jonathan Davis of Korn.

The 20th anniversary of Korn's self-titled debut album, which Rolling Stone last year dubbed as "the most important metal record of the last 20 years," was celebrated - and played in its entirety - at the Tabernacle in Atlanta on Oct. 14.  Vocalist Jonathan Davis, guitarists James "Munky" Shaffer and Brian "Head" Welch, bassist Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu and drummer Ray Luzier rocked the house and wowed a near-capacity crowd.

The enthusiastic audience sang along to favorites like "Shoots and Ladders," "Need To" and "Clown."  Korn's performance was stellar, the sound was clean and the band was as tight as ever.  In fact, they even posed for photographers in the pit ... thank you boys!

Currently, the band is touring around the U.S. with Suicide Silence and Islander as support. Remaining dates are listed below:

October 20 - Dallas, TX @ South Side Ballroom
October 22 - Tempe, AZ @ The Marquee
October 23 - Las Vegas, NV @ House of Blues
October 24 - San Bernardino, CA @ Knotfest
October 27 - Denver, CO @ The Fillmore
October 27 - Salt Lake City, UT @ The Great SaltAir
October 30 - Oakland, CA @ The Fox Theater

Korn is set to release a new album in 2016.

Warren Haynes at the Tabernacle in Atlanta on Oct. 10

The passion of Warren Haynes.

It was all about the music at Tabernacle on Oct. 10, as ChessBoxer and Justin Townes Earle's unique sounds opened for Warren Haynes.

ChessBoxer, is three-piece string band, which features banjoist Matt Menefee, violinist Ross Holmes and upright bassist Royal Masat. From their inspired original pieces, to traditional tunes of the American vernacular, ChessBoxer is at the forefront of one of the most important renaissance periods of American music.

Justin Townes Earle is an American singer-songwriter and musician. He is a son of alternative country artist Steve Earle and is named after Townes Van Zandt. Justin does what many country artists don't -- he puts the blues back into country, and it's really good!

And then it happened, Warren Haynes took the stage with members of ChessBoxer and drummer Jeff Snipe, and wowed the audience from beginning to end.  Being a long-time member of the legendary Allman Brothers Band, it was most fitting that he opened with Dickey Betts' Jessica, a song named after Betts' daughter, but written as a tribute to Gypsy jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt.

I could go on and on telling you how wonderful he was ... instead I'll tell you what he played.  The set list is below:

Jessica
Is It Me Or You
One More Cup Of Coffee
Patchwork Quilt
Company Man
Willin' with Justin Townes Earle
Instrumental Illness with Salt Peanuts & Hottentot Teases
Banks Of The Deep End
Skin It Back
Dusk Till Dawn
Coal Tattoo
Stranded In Self-Pity
Drums
Ophelia
Blue Sky
Spots Of Time

Encore:
Angel Band
Soulshine
Two Of A Kind Blues

Of Monsters & Men at Chastain Park Amphitheatre on Oct.9

Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir captivates the audience.

The indie pop-folk group, Of Monsters and Men are considerably more mainstream  than avant-garde Icelanders like Sigur Ros and Bjork.  On Friday, Oct. 9, they played to an admiring crowd at Chastain Park Amphitheater in Atlanta, Ga.

 

The band's formation for touring has expanded to nine members, including two horn players.  Their stage presence created  a big sound, dramatic lighting and all-black outfits including Nanna in a flowing black robe.  The dark and moody stage came alive with  metal lighting rods along the back that sprang to live when hits like "Little Talks" and music from the new album “Beneath The Skin” were played.  

 

The Swedish band Amason opened the evening. 

 

Highlights below:

Collective Soul With Kevn Kinney at Tabernacle Atlanta on Oct. 3

Collective Soul's Ed Roland and Johnny Rabb perform
to a sold-out crowd at the Tabernacle.

Stockbridge natives, Collective Soul, performed to a sold-out audience at the Tabernacle the day following the release of their long-awaited album “See What You Started By Continuing.”  Atlanta's love affair with Ed Roland and the boys continues to be strong and the Georgia music community showed its respect by inducting them into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in 2009. Last year, Ed Roland was inducted separately for songwriting.

“This is a band that didn’t sell out or sacrifice their integrity to be a ‘flavor of the month,’ so witnessing a success like that was very moving,” said Michele Caplinger, senior executive director of the Atlanta chapter of the Recording Academy. “What a great musical gift they are to the state.”

The two hour performance opened with "December" and included hits like "Run," "Heavy," "Shine," as well as music from the new release.

As a special treat, the opening act was Kevn Kinney's DNC Supergroup featuring Dave V. Johnson on drums, Cracker's bassist Bryan Howard and Sheryl Crow's guitarist-extraordinaire, Peter Stroud.

 

37th Annual Georgia Music Hall of Fame Awards Ceremony

Kevn Kinney was excited about the Drivin' N Cryin' induction.

An illustrious line-up of celebrated music VIPs and luminaries were inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame on Saturday, September 26, 2015 in the Georgia Ballroom at the Georgia World Congress Center.  

The awards were televised live across the state of Georgia by GPB (Georgia Public Broadcasting) and showcased Georgia’s broad spectrum of talent.  The evening began with a VIP Red Carpet and Governor’s Reception, a seated Gala Dinner, followed by the main event filled with tributes, salutes, exclusive performances and presentation of the highly anticipated GEORGY™ Award.  

The 2015 Inductees are listed below: 

Gregg Allman/Songwriter Award Multi-Award Winning American rock and blues singer-songwriter, keyboardist, guitarist and founding member of The Allman Brothers Band, a longtime Georgia resident. 

John & Jane Barbe/Pioneer Award  Jane (1928-2003) vocalist and voice talent aka “Time Lady” and husband composer John, both big band musicians and jingle producers from Atlanta, Georgia. 

Drivin’ N’ Cryin’/Group Award American Hard Rock/Southern Rock band from Atlanta, GA celebrating their 30^th Anniversary this year! 

John Huie/Non Performer Award GRAMMY Award Winning Executive Producer celebrated Talent Booking Agent with Creative Artists Agency, born in Macon, GA.

Sam Moore/Performer Award Multi-Award Winning American Soul and R&B singer/songwriter and the unmistakable lead vocalist of the famed 60’s soul duo Sam & Dave™. Sam Moore, The Legendary Soul Man, is celebrating his 80th birthday on October 12th and was born in Macon County, GA.

Monica Pearson/Chairman’s Award Multi-Award Winning, celebrated Television & Radio Personality, Vocalist, Advocate & Spokesperson a.k.a. Georgia Media Royalty.  

Philip Walden Jr. /Posthumous Award www.legacy.com/obituaries/atlanta/obituary.aspx?pid=151721987. Attorney & Music Executive; Capricorn Records, Turner Broadcasting, Georgia Lawyers for the Arts. (Macon/Atlanta)

Tim Wilson/Posthumous Award http://radiotvtalk.blog.ajc.com/2014/02/27/tim-wilson-1961-2004-quintessential-road-comic-and-georgia-native/#sthash.2jOBOdrh.dpuf. American stand-up comedian and country music artist (Columbus, GA)

Sonny Limbaugh/Posthumous Award www.discogs.com/artist/636622-Sonny-Limbo?filter_anv=0&type=Credits. Atlanta Music Legend, Record Producer and Songwriter.

Taste of Atlanta 2015



This is actually a taco!

This year's event took festival-goers on a culinary adventure through the city's many diverse neighborhoods by featuring the chefs and restaurants that give these communities their true personality and flavor. Food lovers of all ages joined Taste of Atlanta in celebrating the dynamic energy and variety of the local restaurant scene while savoring what makes Atlanta the food capital of the South!