The Radio 105.7 Holiday Spectacular with AWOLNATION & Metric

Emily Haines and Josh Winstead of Metric.

On Dec. 17, The Tabernacle hosted Radio 105.7 Holiday Spectacular featuring AWOLNATION & Metric.  Below are highlights of the evening:

No Goats Just Wine at Fainting Goat Vineyards

The spacious tasting room is exquisite.

Fainting Goat Vineyard is nestled in Pickens County on the southeast side of Burnt Mountain.  The family-owned vineyard and winery offers handcrafted wines grown from the finest certified French vines. The wine list boasts a range of full-bodied reds, crisp whites and sweet blends.

The spacious 30-foot ceilings in the tasting room yields to the surrounding scenic mountain views and a 50-foot veranda. The indoor and outdoor fireplaces make tasting at Fainting Goat perfect any season.

King Diamond and EXODUS at the Tabernacle in Atlanta, Nov. 16

King Diamond at the Tabernacle in Atlanta for the Abigail in Concert U.S. tour.

Thrash metal giants EXODUS are on the road with headliner King Diamond on the “Abigail In Concert 2015” U.S. tour.  Below are highlights from the Tabernacle in Atlanta, Ga.:

Picture-Perfect Chateau Meichtry

Chateau Meichtry in Talking Rock, Georgia.

 

Chateau Meichtry is a family-owned and operated vineyard and winery located in the beautiful foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. The rolling hills provide an ideal location for growing quality wine grapes.  The beautiful scenery is a perfect setting for sipping a glass of wine and enjoying live musical entertainment from an array of Georgia musicians.

 

The Meritage and Georgia Merlot are lush and velvety with extremely fine tannins.

Mercier Orchards in Blue Ridge, Ga.

Mercier Orchards in the North Georgia Mountains.

 

In 1943, Bill & Adele Mercier opened Mercier Orchards.  This family-owned and operated apple orchard is now celebrating over 70 years of fruitful harvests! The combination of events, a bakery & deli, market store and farm winery makes it a great choice for a day trip to beautiful Blue Ridge, Ga.

The B-52s Halloween Scream at the Fox Theatre on Oct. 30

Cindy Wilson and Kate Pierson

The B-52s Halloween Scream was a rollicking All Hallows Eve show complete with costumes, glitter and dancing.  The B-52s brought their live dance party to The Fabulous Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Ga., for the most memorable Halloween event of 2015. Kudos to Cindy Wilson for performing while under the weather.

See highlights below:

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!

Music Midtown 2015

Lenny Kravitz at 2015 Music Midtown.

Produced by Live Nation, Music Midtown is Atlanta's premier outdoor music festival.  The 2-day event is held at Piedmont Park in the heart of Midtown.  This year's sponsors included: Coors Light, Jack Daniels, Belk,  Honda,  AT&T,  Coca Cola Zero,  Coca Cola,  El Jimador, Rex Goliath, Citi, Piedmont Healthcare, Southwest Airlines, American Family Insurance, Uber, W Midtown Hotel.

Highlights below:

Rodrigo y Gabriela's '9 Dead Alive' Tour at Tabernacle Atlanta on Sept. 9th

Rodrigo y Gabriela

Internationally acclaimed Mexican acoustic rock guitar duo Rodrigo y Gabriela are on the road, bringing their unique instrumental blend of metal, jazz and world music to audiences all over the U.S.

Rodrigo Sanchez and Gabriela Quintero have been playing together for more than fifteen years. Known for exhilarating live shows, they have won the hearts of music lovers from haciendas to the Hollywood Bowl to festival fields across Europe, as they weave their unique six-string magic.  The extraordinary interplay between Sanchez's fiery lead lines and Quintero's phenomenal rhythmic battery is truly universal.

The duo is touring with the worldwide release of “9 Dead Alive,” their first studio album in five years. The new songs are intimate, the playing intuitive and the results are spectacular, bursting with melodic energy and rhythmic invention.

Rodrigo y Gabriela's performance at the Tabernacle in Atlanta, Ga. on Wednesday captured the warmth and spontaneity of two great musicians riffing and jamming together, perfectly, with desire, elegance and mucho gusto.

Atlanta Ballet: From the Solitude of Serenbe to a Block Party in the City

Kiara Felder and Alexandre Barros in Two and a Half Songs, choreography by Nathan Griswold.

 

On August 23, Atlanta Ballet’s Wabi Sabi ventured south of the city for its first engagement at Serenbe, the progressive community connected to nature on the edge of Atlanta. In WHIM, the troupe performed works by Atlanta Ballet‘s Tara Lee, Heath Gill, and Sarah Hillmer. 

The next weekend the public had a rare opportunity to check out one of the metro area’s most happening arts HQs at the first Atlanta Ballet Block Party.  The suggested donation of $20 was for a worthy cause, The Dancers' Resource Fund, which supports dancers as they prepare for second careers after dance. Upon retirement from the stage, dancers have used the funds for everything from college tuition to videography equipment for their career transitions. 

 

The family-friendly event featured mini dance classes, a rehearsal viewing (for February’s performance of “Moulin Rouge — The Ballet”), scenery-wardrobe tours, a costume sale, stage makeup demos, a DJ spinning tunes, a Top Golf Midtown demo station, a photo booth, food trucks and door prizes. 

 

In addition, Wabi Sabi, Atlanta Ballet’s contemporary summer offshoot ensemble, shared the spotlight with the Alliance Theatre's performance of an excerpt from its season-opening One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and the Atlanta Opera's soloist Elizabeth Claxton, who performed an aria.

 

 

Highlights below:

Sandy Spring Restaurant Council's Kickoff Cookout Tailgate at 5 Seasons Brewing



After the ribbon cutting ceremony Mayor Rusty Paul throws the ball to kickoff the event.

The Sandy Springs Community celebrated its first Kickoff Cookout Tailgate! Attendees celebrated their favorite college football teams while tasting some of Sandy Springs’ top restaurants ranging from Southern-style cooking to exotic flavors and recipes from around the globe. The fun-filled afternoon included live music, tailgate games and craft beers. 

Participating restaurants included:  5 Seasons Brewing, Brickery Grill and Bar, Cibo e beve, Dantanna's Tavern, Food 101, Hudson Grille, Marlow's Tavern, Nancy G's, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Parkside Grille, Seven Hens, Taziki's Mediterranean Café, Teela Taqueria and Under the Cork Tree.

First Annual Kosher Food & Wine Atlanta Festival

Catering at VIP dinner provided by A Kosher Touch.

An avant-garde feast for the senses featuring aerial acrobatics, electronic music and a dazzling array of gourmet cuisine comprised the first annual Kosher Food & Wine Atlanta festival on Thursday, a celebration of the richness and range of kosher food available for local consumers. Royal Wine, one of the largest wine importers in the U.S. supplied more than hundred varieties of international wines for the inaugural event.

Presented by Chabad of Georgia as it marks 30 years of Jewish outreach in the area, the cocktail and dinner party was held at the Historic Georgia Railroad Freight Depot, which was transformed by Track Seven Events into an edgy, trendy atmosphere, presenting multiple floors of food, an elevated D.J. spinning electronic beats and a Cirque-du-Soleil style performance of aerialists twirling through the air.

Some 600 people attended Kosher Food & Wine Atlanta, which featured 30 caterers, restaurateurs and grocery chains to beckon tasters into the sensory feast. In addition, the festival honored Chef Sandra Bank, whose catering business has served Atlantans the promise and power of exquisite kosher dining for nearly 20 years. Bank was feted with a hand-blown glass award signaling her creativity in elevating kosher cuisine and, as her slogan puts it, “making the ordinary extraordinary.”

Meet the Past Festival at the Margaret Mitchell House

Margaret Mitchell's modern-day doppelgänger.

Atlanta History Center hosted Meet the Past Festival at the Margaret Mitchell House on Saturday, Aug. 22.  The festival allowed guests to experience the past while encountering Margaret Mitchell as a young reporter, a budding novelist, and a World War II philanthropist. Attendees enjoyed kid-friendly activities, lawn games, live music and Southern food.

Highlights below:

A Sea Turtle Adventure on Ossabaw Island

"We Are Family" loggerhead sea turtle hatchlings.

Boy George and Culture Club at the Fabulous Fox Theatre in Atlanta on Aug. 12

Roy Hay, Boy George and Mikey Craig.

The original members of Culture Club appeared on stage to loud applause, Mikey Craig, Roy Hay and Jon Moss, followed by Boy George. The band featured a horn section with saxophone, trombone and trumpet, along with drums, bongos, bass, two guitars and three background singers.

Boy George revealed a dramatically different voice -- an octave lower, a deeper pitch and rougher edge due to vocal damage.  He used his recalibrated voice wisely and delivered a superb performance.

They started things off with three blasts from the past, "Church of the Poison Mind," "It's a Miracle," and "I'll Tumble 4 Ya."

This is the band’s first tour in 15 years with the original lineup and coincides with the fall release of "Tribes," their first studio album since 1999’s "Don’t Mind If I Do."

Shinedown at Tabernacle Atlanta, July 31

Fist-pumping rockers Shinedown ignited the stage at Tabernacle Atlanta.  After a three-year wait, the crowd was most pleased with tunes like "Cut the Cord."

Nothing More at Tabernacle Atlanta on July 31

With the good looks of Jim Morrison, Jonny Hawkins wowed crowd, as the Texan alt-metal quartet Nothing More performed their hits - including "Jenny"- at the Tabernacle on July 31.

Slipknot Ignited Aaron's Amphitheatre at Lakewood on July 26

Corey Taylor

Slipknot hurls together death metal, grindcore, rap and industrial punk with an intricate musicianship you’d expect from an orchestra.  The masked and costumed metal group’s Summer’s Last Stand tour was a highly-theatrical celebration that featured macabre figures striding, leaping and riding moving platform around a two-tiered stage, plenty of fire and lyrical brimstone. It was my first Slipknot concert and I had a blast!

Over their two decades together, singer Corey Taylor has become fond of referring to the band as his "crazy dream." But if Slipknot is what he sees when he turns in for the night, you wouldn't necessarily want to be sharing a room with him.  

The group is made up of members who wear a series of masks  – inspired by Taylor's love of horror films – which are said to reflect their various on-stage personas. In the early days, the masks also served to hide the band's identities, though this changed in 2010 when the group appeared unmasked at a press conference following the death of the group's original bassist, Paul Gray. Since then, the masks have been more about performance than protection.

Kate Pierson's Guitars & Microphones Tour Kicked off at Variety Playhouse on July 17

Kate Pierson opens the show with "Mister Sister."

Variety Playhouse was the place to be last Friday night for Kate Pierson's Guitars and Microphones tour.  Executive-produced by Sia, Pierson's solo debut album is a collection of songs about independence.  The collaboration also features the Strokes' Nick Valensi, songwriter Dallas Austin and producer Tim Anderson. 

It was quite fitting that Pierson kicked off  her set with "Mister Sister," an LGBT-rights anthem, as she announced plans to wed her partner Monica Coleman later this year.  

The Mike & Ruthy Band not only opened the show, they backed Pierson during her performance.

Barenaked Ladies Last Summer on Earth Tour with Violent Femmes and Colin Hay

Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park played host to the 2015 Last Summer on Earth Tour on July 12.  A group of great musicians playing, interacting and having fun with concert-goers who were there with the intention of having fun was memorable indeed. 

 

The music was brilliant, the venue was great and no one seemed bored. It was everything a summer outdoor concert should be. 

Colin Hay of Men at Work opened with a short set.  He was followed by the Violent Femmes.  Then, Barenaked Ladies took the stage ... the crowd roared. 

Why the name, Last Summer on Earth Tour?  "It is not a doomsday prediction; it's a call to action,” says Barenaked Ladies' band leader Ed Robertson in a press release. “We sincerely hope this won't be the Last Summer on Earth, but just in case, we're going to ROCK like it is!!"  

When all was said and done, I forgot just how much you smile at a Barenaked Ladies concert.  It was most refreshing to see performers onstage enjoying themselves just as much as those in attendance. 

Highlights below:

Hall & Oates Belted Out the Hits to a Sold-Out Crowd on July 10.

Performing to a sold-out Chastain Park Amphitheatre, Daryl Hall & John Oates were at their best. It is hard to believe they have been performing together for more than 40 years.  The soulful sound of  Hall’s vocals were pitch-perfect on a jazzy version of “Sara Smile,” and the pop favorite  “Did It In a Minute.”

The duo surprised us with older, lesser-known hits including “Las Vegas Turnaround” and “Back Together Again”. The dance party continued with an encore of “Rich Girl,” “Kiss On My List” and “Private Eyes.” Fun was had by all in spite of the sprinkle of rain.

Mutlu, a long-time friend of Hall & Oates,  opened the show.

Don't fret if you missed Friday's performance, rumor has it they will be back for Music Midtown in September!

Kate and Corey's Somewhere Else Tonight

 

I saw Kate and Corey for the first time in 2012 at Dixie Tavern, and instantly fell in love with their sound.    Tonight at Eddie's Attic in Decatur, Ga. , they are celebrating the release of their new CD, Somewhere Else Tonight.

The CD sets the scene of mystery and a sense of uncertainty of what is to come.  With strong vocals  and a unique sound, this duo are at their best on this CD.   The story-telling lyrics are delightful.  The music ranges from  slow and steady, to toe-tapping lively that makes you feel as though you should be whirling around dancing.

Somewhere Else Tonight is fun with no boundaries-what more could you ask for? Not many bands can re-produce the excitement of their live shows onto a CD, but Kate and Corey have mastered it. 

For more information visit www.kateandcorey.com.

Atlanta Ballet's Wabi Sabi Presents “Trip the Light Fantastic!”

Sara Havener, Jared Tan and Jackie Nash in Heath Gill's "Idyll."

I look forward to Atlanta Ballet's Wabi Sabi each summer because I get to see great new work from rising choreographers in various location around Atlanta. This year's music included Alabama Shakes, Tom Waits, Philip Glass, Frédéric Chopin and an original composition by Dede Vogt.

Atlanta Botanical Garden is currently is hosting an exhibit of light installations by British artist Bruce Munro, “Light in the Garden.”   On Thursday, Jun 18th, two of the four works on the debut program of Wabi Sabi’s fifth season graced Munro’s most intense and magical installation, “Forest of Light,” amid the garden’s Storza Woods.

Wabi Sabi ballet master John Welker said that when he visited the forest recently, he admired the landscape architecture of the newly opened Woodland Ramble, but as night fell and the lights began to twinkle he was stunned.

Thursday night’s program, “Trip the Light Fantastic,” had the audience in awe.  It was whimsical and Munro's installation made you feel like you were in a fairy tale.

The program began on the Great Lawn with Heath Gill's Idyll.  we then followed “Between’s” dancers  - choreographed by Sarah Hillmer - as they move through the lit woods. The work paused at the Glade Garden’s reflecting pool, then moved to the Rose Garden where Meaghan Muller’s circus-inspired work, "Ganesa" showcased the former Cirque du Soleil aerialist's skills. Due to rain, Tara Lee's "Swimmer" was moved from the Great Lawn to Day Hall.  The intimate setting was a perfect ending to an exceptional program. 

Art and War at Atlanta History Center

This vintage U.S. Army/Air Force K-24 camera was used on WWII aircraft. It was mounted in the belly in a compartment on the right side of the plane. This camera could take 125 (5x5 inches) photographs from a single roll of film without reloading. It was used for BDA - bomb damage assessment - and photo-reconnaissance. It could be operated electronically and manually.

2015 Atlanta Food & Wine Festival

Restaurant 356 is located at the Porsche Experience Center

Celebrating rich Southern flavors since its inception, Atlanta Food & Wine Festival is a weekend dedicated to the exploration of food, beverage and tradition.  The festival took place May 28 – 31 in Midtown, the heart of Atlanta.  Guests experienced a culinary festival unlike any other.  Voted by US Today’s 10Best as one of the top 10 food festivals in the country, Atlanta Food & Wine Festival offers 90 smartly-crafted Learning Experiences, three Tasting Tent sessions, 10 unique Dinners & Events, and so much more.  

From the American South to Southern regions across the globe, Atlanta Food & Wine Festival shines an international spotlight on all things Southern. This four-day weekend was carefully planned by  co-founders, Elizabeth Feichter and Dominique Love along with an 80-member Advisory Council with members from Texas to D.C.   The Atlanta Food & Wine Festival is proudly known as the first festival to highlight the South as a culinary destination.

Below are highlights of the event:

Angela Reign's School's Out Party at Hard Rock Cafe

Barry Richman, Robert Meadows, Angela Reign, Tim Pace, Roger Andes and Matt Pawlowski.

Atlanta's Hard Rock Cafe played host to award-winning Angela Reign and her band on Saturday, May 23.

The School's Out Party was filled with the passionate and high-energy music for which Reign is known. 

Atlanta Magician of the Year, Joe M. Turner emceed  the event and entertained the crowd between sets. 

Guitar legend Barry Richman and the magical Robert Meadows joined Ms. Reign for an evening that will long be long remembered.  

Below are highlights of the evening:

38th Annual Atlanta Jazz Festival

The legendary Pharoah Sanders.

 

The 38th Annual Atlanta Jazz Festival was a great way to spend Memorial Day weekend.  There was something for everyone - instrumentals, sultry vocalists, contemporary, traditional, swing and Latin Jazz.

Highlights from Sunday, May 24th are below: