FP221228 by Flagpole Magazine

COLORBEARER OF ATHENS MAKING NEW YEAR PREDICTIONS

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DECEMBER 28, 2022 · VOL. 36 · NO. 51 · FREE & JA NUARY 4, 2023

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F L A GP OL E .C OM · DE C E MB E R 28, 2022 & J A NU A R Y 4, 2023

this week’s issue

contents

MIKE WHITE · DEADLYDESIGNS.COM

HAPPY NEW YEAR! 706-425-5099 i 298 Prince Ave. Across from The Bottleworks

www.downtownathensvets.com

The B-52s are performing the remaining dates for the Final Tour Ever of Planet Earth, after postponing due to illness, in Atlanta Jan. 6–8 and Athens Jan. 10. See “Boarding Up The Love Shack: The B-52s’ Final Tour Ever of Planet Earth” online at flagpole.com.

This Modern World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 NEWS: City Dope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Curb Your Appetite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Out With the Old, In With the New

Event Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

New Year’s Eve Events

Live Music Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Your Two-Week Forecast

Bulletin Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

SPECIAL SECTION: Slackpole . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Art Around Town . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Flagpole Readers Fill the Pages

Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Adopt Me . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Sudoku . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Crossword . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

GREGORY FREDERICK

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR & PUBLISHER Alicia Nickles PUBLISHER Pete McCommons PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Larry Tenner ADVERTISING SALES Fabienne Mack, Jessica Pritchard Mangum CITY EDITOR Blake Aued ARTS & MUSIC EDITOR Jessica Smith EDITORIAL COORDINATOR Sam Lipkin OFFICE MANAGER & DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Zaria Gholston CLASSIFIEDS Zaria Gholston AD DESIGNERS Chris McNeal, Cody Robinson PHOTOGRAPHER Suzannah Evans CONTRIBUTORS Bash Benavides, Maxwell Champion, Carson Colenbaugh, Liz Conroy, Nikki Czechowski, Ellie Dover, Jill Hartmann-Roberts, Kathryn Kyker, Charles Lamb III, Lacey Lancaster, Micah Miranda, Annie Lynn Osaer, Steve Piazza, Rene Shoemaker, Eric Somerville, Rich Strom, Eddie Whitlock, CIRCULATION Jennifer Bray, Gerald Burris, Charles Greenleaf EDITORIAL INTERNS Patrick Barry, Shelby Israel

The Good Grief Trio

STREET ADDRESS: 220 Prince Ave., Athens, GA 30601 MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box 1027, Athens, GA 30603 EDITORIAL: 706-549-9523 · ADVERTISING: 706-549-0301 LETTERS: letters@flagpole.com MUSIC: music@flagpole.com NEWS: news@flagpole.com ADVICE: advice@flagpole.com

Flagpole, Inc. publishes Flagpole Magazine weekly and distributes 8,500 copies free at over 275 locations around Athens, Georgia. Subscriptions cost $90 a year, $50 for six months. © 2022 Flagpole, Inc. All rights reserved. PLEASE VAX UP SO WE DON’T NEED TO

MASK UP AGAIN

NOTICE The vacancy resulting from the resignation of Kirrena Gallagher as a member of the Clarke County Board of Education will be filled by the Board pursuant to Georgia Laws 1993, Page 3514, Section (5)(f)(2), which provides: "The remaining members of the board shall appoint a qualified resident of the education district wherein the vacancy occurred to serve for the remainder of the unexpired term and until a successor is elected and qualified."

Any qualified resident residing in District 2, Clarke County Board of Education, and desiring to serve on the Clarke County Board of Education for the remainder of the term through December 31, 2024, is invited to submit a letter of interest, biographical sketch, and up to two signed letters of support to: Lisa Palmer, Board Manager Clarke County Board of Education 595 Prince Avenue Athens, Georgia 30601 palmerli@clarke.ga.k12.us

COVER ART from the 2022 Flagpole covers

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Call today for a quote! Adilene Valencia 706-424-9810 aecleanathens@gmail.com

CALENDAR: Live Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

VOLUME 36 ISSUE NUMBER 51

DON’T FAIL YOURSELF THIS NEW YEAR, FOLLOW THROUGH AND CLEAN UP.

Calendar Picks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

CALENDAR: Calendar Picks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

CLASSIFIED ADS: class@flagpole.com ADVERTISING: ads@flagpole.com CALENDAR: calendar@flagpole.com EDITORIAL: editorial@flagpole.com

Residential • Office • Construction • Move In • Move Out

online exclusive With Gregory Frederick behind the camera, Athens GA Live Music documents artists gracing stages across the Classic City. Don’t miss footage from the recent performances by Michael Potter, Eugene Chadborn, the Good Grief Trio, Larry’s Homework, Night Palace, Vanity Cult and more. See “Athens GA Live Music Recap” at flagpole.com.

Applicants must reside in District 2, and meet the qualifications required by law. The following materials must be delivered to Lisa Palmer at the Clarke County Board of Education Office, 595 Prince Avenue,Athens, Georgia 30601, personally or sent by email to: palmerli@clarke.k12.ga.us by 4:45 p.m., Friday, January 6, 2023: 1. A signed letter of interest 2. A resume or biographical sketch 3. Two letters of recommendation from supporters

This 16th day of December, 2022. LaKeisha Gantt President Clarke County Board of Education

DE C E MB E R 28, 2022 & J A NU A R Y 4, 2023· F L A GP OL E .C OM

Nominate your FAVORITE SONGWRITER now thru March 20

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Finalists Receive $250

The singer-songwriter — formerly of the Carolina Chocolate Drops — explores the culture of her parents’ native Haiti.

Winner Announced on May 4th at the 40 Watt Club

Leyla McCalla

Details & Submission Forms @ www.vicchesnuttaward.com/nominations

“Her voice is disarmingly natural.” —New York Times

Jan

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F L A GP OL E .C OM · DE C E MB E R 28, 2022 & J A NU A R Y 4, 2023

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news

city dope

Comings and Goings

COMMISSION AND SCHOOL BOARD TRANSITIONS, AND MORE LOCAL NEWS

By Blake Aued news@flagpole.com

referring to the COVID-19 pandemic and the nationwide social and political upheaval of the past few years. Link, of course, may find herself back behind the rail come April. “Y’all haven’t heard the last of me,” she said. Denson closed out the meeting with a slogan from his rabble-rousing days as an Occupy Athens activist: “The people united can never be defeated.”

The qualifying period for a March special than when we started,” Dyckman said. “I election to fill the vacant District 2 seat will always be proud to have been part of on the Athens-Clarke County Commission this group of amazing women—I know it Clarke County Board of Education ended Dec. 21 with just two candidates wasn’t always all women, but it was pretty President LaKeisha Gantt has proposed to on the ballot: Melissa Link and Kirrena awesome.” rename Chase Street and Alps Road elemenGallagher. Three commission seats are also turning tary schools for two educators who helped Gallagher represented District 2 on the over, with Denson in District 5 and Russell Clarke County Board of Education until Edwards in District 7 also leaving under the desegregate local schools in the 1960s. Gantt proposed at the board’s Dec. last Thursday, when she resigned her seat same circumstances as Link. “I can’t imag15 meeting renaming Alps for Bettye to run for commission. But the BOE’s ine how tough it’s been for you to not have Henderson Holston and Chase for Johnnie District 2 has little in common with the had the opportunity to run again, as we all Lay Burks, who were the first Africancommission’s new District 2, as redrawn thought you’d be able to do,” Commissioner American teachers at by local Republican legisthose respective schools. lators during post-Census Initially, she wanted to redistricting earlier this vote on the new names year. Commission District in January, but instead 2 is now mostly made the board opted to accept up of what used to be other nominations District 3, represented by through Jan. 12 and vote Link for eight years until at the Feb. 9 meeting. Each Republicans moved her board member can nomdistrict out from under inate up to two names, her. and constituents can make While a special election suggestions through their is required to fill the rest BOE representative. of former commissioner “I’ve been told it’s a big, Mariah Parker’s term, the tall, big, big ask,” Gantt school board has a differsaid, and some board ent process. The remaining members said more public eight board members will input is needed before takselect a new member to If you need to do your business downtown while you’re doing your business downtown, ing such a step. serve the remaining two the “Portland loo” public restroom at the corner of College Avenue and Washington “Renaming a facility, an years of Gallagher’s term entire building, feels like a from among District 2 res- Street is now open for business. bigger thing than renamidents who apply. Anyone ing a room, and I think doing it without getwho is interested in serving should mail, Carol Myers told them at the end of their ting community input will not be received email or hand-deliver a biographical sketch last meeting on Dec. 13. well,” board member Kara Dyckman said. or resume, letter of interest and up to two It marks the end of an era. What is Others who played a role in integratletters of support to Board Manager Lisa widely regarded as the most progressive ing Clarke County schools may be equally Palmer at 595 Prince Ave., Athens, GA mayor and commission in local history deserving of such an honor, board member 30601 or palmerli@clarke.k12.ga.us. The is no more. Link, Denson and Edwards Linda Davis said. “I’m not sure how we pick deadline is 4:45 p.m. on Jan. 6. will be replaced by Tiffany Taylor, Dexter who we celebrate, and that’s a concern for In addition to Gallagher, District 5 repre- Fisher and John Culpepper come January. sentative Kara Dyckman and District 9 rep“Transformative” was the word used by resentative Tawana Mattox are also leaving Mayor Kelly Girtz and several commissionthe board. Both served during a tumultuous ers to describe the outgoing group, which— period marked by the controversial tenure agree with them or not—at least attempted and exit of former superintendent Demond to tackle the serious issues facing the Means, two subsequent superintendent community that previous administrations searches, bickering amongst board memwouldn’t touch. bers and an investigation by accreditation “A lot of people think this commission agency Cognia, and endured much abuse is too progressive, too left, too crazy. I am from pro-Means factions of the public proud of the work we’ve done together. along the way—particularly Mattox, the We’ve transformed Athens and made some only Black board member to openly oppose dramatic, awesome changes to this commuMeans. nity that my one-day great-great grandkids “We didn’t always agree, but I like how will be able to enjoy,” Commissioner Patrick in the end we agreed to disagree at times,” Davenport said. Mattox said at the board’s Dec. 15 meeting. While many of those initiatives, from “I think we’ve truly grown up these past few the Bethel Homes redevelopment to the years, learned a lot, and I’m ready to get Classic Center arena to completion of the back on the ground, so I’ll see you on the Firefly Trail, won’t come to fruition for other side of that podium.” years, the ground has at least been laid. Dyckman noted that the end of their “We’ve begun countywide conversations, terms also marks the end of a period where even strategic planning on some of the the school board was made up entirely of most pressing problems facing this comwomen. Former ACC commissioner Tim munity—not just one, but most of them,” Denson won the May election to take over Manager Blaine Williams said, including her seat, while Piedmont College education broadband access, youth development, professor Mark Evans will replace Mattox. workforce development, mental health, “I’m very thankful for this experience, affordable housing and homelessness. although it’s had its ups and downs. But I “It has really been transformative work do think we are in such a better place now in extraordinarily difficult times,” Link said,

BOE Floats New School Names

me,” she said. The board also voted to purchase 25 ballistic shields and to place one at each school in the district. Superintendent Robbie Hooker noted that, during school shootings in Uvalde, TX, and elsewhere, law enforcement had to wait for such armored equipment to arrive before confronting the shooter. “By having those shields there, we don’t have to wait,” he said. Board member Kirrena Gallagher raised a slippery slope argument—would purchasing ballistic shields lead to metal detectors or police dogs in schools? Hooker said there are no plans for those, and Gallagher voted with all of her colleagues to approve the purchase.

Union Pushes for Free Parking

BLAKE AUED

The United Campus Workers of Georgia union wants to make parking free for University of Georgia employees, some of whom pay up to $40 a month despite earning low wages. “It’s kind of ridiculous that we have to pay to park for our jobs,” UCWGA co-chair Bryant Barnes told the police officer who answered the door at the Administration Building when a half-dozen union members tried to deliver a petition with 635 signatures to UGA President Jere Morehead. Last month, union members were also denied entry when they tried to deliver a living wage petition to Morehead’s office calling for a wage floor of $20 an hour or $41,600 a year. UGA’s current minimum wage is $15.14 an hour. According to MIT, however, a single person needs to make $15.89 to support themselves in Athens. For a family with two workers and one child, each parent needs to make at least $16.44. A single parent must make $29.14 to support one child. While union members acknowledged that encouraging driving is not ideal given the threat of climate change, they said many workers simply have no other choice. Living near campus is increasingly unaffordable, and some employees must arrive at work before transit starts to run or immediately leave for a second job once their shift at UGA ends. f

DE C E MB E R 28, 2022 & J A NU A R Y 4, 2023· F L A GP OL E .C OM

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F L A GP OL E .C OM · DE C E MB E R 28, 2022

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arts & culture

calendar picks

MUSIC | FRI, DEC. 30

The Randall Bramblett Big Band Annual Holiday Bash Marigold Auditorium • 7 p.m. (doors), 8 p.m. (show) • $20

Randall Bramblett and his big band will return to Winterville’s Marigold Auditorium for their annual holiday bash. The prolific local musician and songwriter has immersed himself in the world of music IAN McFARLANE

Randall Bramblett

for four decades, sharing the stage with Steve Winwood, Bonnie Raitt, The Allman Brothers and Widespread Panic. As a songwriter, he has penned tunes that have been covered by artists from Hot Tuna to Chuck Leavell. Bramblett is most luminous, however, as a frontman and bandleader, a statement supported by 12 records of exemplary roots rock. Now, as the holiday season is upon us, Bramblett musters every musical force at his disposal to bring a festive show that is sure to be unforgettable. [Patrick Barry] MUSIC | SAT, DEC. 31

Kishi Bashi

40 Watt Club • 8 p.m. • $30

Kishi Bashi, the international touring artist who calls Athens home, will be bringing in the New Year at the 40 Watt Club with Tall Tall Trees. Both songwriters are accomplished multi-instrumentalists, with

the U.S., releasing a feature length documentary exploring minority identity and scoring the entire soundtrack for Apple TV+’s kids show “Stillwater” among other accomplishments. [Sam Lipkin] MUSIC | SAT, DEC. 31

Modern Skirts

Georgia Theatre • 8:30 p.m. • $21

There are some strong opponents in the battle for this year’s New Year’s Eve concert. This one will be a doozy, with Modern Skirts, Vision Video, Tedo Stone and Booty Boyz taking the stage all in one night. Modern Skirts has played a few shows this year, a rare treat for fans of the band, which officially announced its breakup in 2013. That’s not to say any of the members bowed out of music, of course. Everyone is likely sharper than ever, returning to the band with new sets of skills and visions. Vision Video will rock the stage with its goth pop atmosphere, and Tedo Stone will bring a rocking set tinged with cosmic country. Rounding out the night will be a DJ set by Booty Boyz. [PB] MUSIC | SAT, DEC. 31

Five Eight, Mercyland Nowhere Bar • 6 p.m.

There are plenty of choices for New Year’s celebrations after 9 p.m., but listen: You’ve got the whole day off; you’re trying to pre-game; where do you go? Well, look no further than Nowhere Bar, where two bands are eager to supply you with energy to last you through the evening. Five Eight and Mercyland will be playing an early set. Five Eight is known for its energetic live shows, and has also released six albums. It has toured with just about every big Athens band, and has remained active since 1992. Mercyland, on the other hand, had a bit of a hiatus after its formation in 1985, with principal songwriter David Barbe opting instead to open up Chase Park Transduction. Now, it’s back, with a vinyl release and new energy that will ring in the new year. [PB]

... just listen

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MUSIC | SAT, JAN. 7

Tinsley Ellis

Rialto Club • 8 p.m. • $20

Tinsley Ellis

Kishi Bashi known for his violin mastery and Tall Tall Trees considered a pioneer in the realm of experimental, DIY banjo music. This fall marked the 10 year anniversary of Kishi Bashi’s debut album, 151a, named in reference to a Japanese term that means something akin to “once in a lifetime.” Over the past 10 years, Kishi Bashi has recreated that once in a lifetime feeling over and over again performing with orchestras across

Georgia blues musician Tinsley Ellis will play at the Rialto Club in January, showcasing a new project he calls Tinsley Ellis: Acoustic Songs and Stories, a culmination of 40 years of life spent on the road. Ellis acquired his first guitar at age seven, and hasn’t stopped playing since then. The show will feature some of his most popular songs, as well as delta blues and songs by artists like Gregg Allman, Bob Dylan and Leo Kottke, also a brief Athens native. Interwoven between these performances will be tales from his life playing bars and clubs around the United States, truck stop and motel encounters, and plenty of laughs. Forty years is a long career in any field, but in music specifically, it’s almost unheard of. Come witness a legend of the craft during this unique show. [PB] f

Photo by The Blumes

Events

Visit us at EptingEvents.com DE C E MB E R 28, 2022 & J A NU A R Y 4, 2023· F L A GP OL E .C OM

Tuesday 27

event calendar

COMEDY: IGB Comedy Night (International Grill & Bar) Enjoy a night of stand-up comedy hosted by Lanny Farmer. 7–9 p.m. FREE! www.facebook.com/IGBAthensGA EVENTS: Boulevard Brass Band (595 Nanthahala Ave.) Bring your band instrument, meet outdoors and rehearse songs simple enough for beginners and open to improvisation for more advanced musicians. Every Tuesday, 6–8 p.m. FREE! calclements@gmail.com EVENTS: No Phone Party (Hendershot’s) Disconnect to connect with a phone-free, laptop-free happy hour featuring drink specials, snacks, games and a record player. Every Tuesday, 6–9 p.m. www. hendershotsathens.com

Wednesday 28 CLASSES: Salsa Dance Class (Cloud) Join SALSAthens for Cuban-style salsa dance classes. No partner necessary and beginners welcome. 7–8 p.m. $10. www. facebook.com/salsaathens COMEDY: Gorgeous George’s Improv League (Buvez) Come out for some home-grown townie improv. Bring some interesting suggestions and a loose funny bone to help create some improv magic on the spot. Every Wednesday, 7 p.m. $5 suggested donation. www. flyingsquidcomedy.com EVENTS: Creative Reuse Open House (Teacher Reuse Store) Every other Wednesday, non- teacher community members are invited to browse free supplies. Eligible groups include students, nonprofits, artists/creatives, small business owners, social workers and religious organizations. Camps, after-school and daycare programs are included. 2–6:30 p.m. FREE! reuse@accgov.com, www.facebook.com/athenstrs

EVENTS: New Year’s Just Dance Party (Oconee County Library) Dance into the New Year early with a few rounds of Just Dance Now. Snacks and drinks will be provided. 6–8 p.m. FREE! www.athenslibrary. org/oconee FILM: Wednesday Cozy Movie Night (Athentic Brewing Co.) Bring a comfy blanket, your favorite snacks and cuddle up for a night of holiday classics. 7–9 p.m. FREE! www.athenticbrewing.com GAMES: Christmas Music Bingo (B&B Theatres) Win prizes at this Christmas music-themed bingo night. 7:30 p.m. www.facebook. com/bbathens12

Thursday 29 COMEDY: Open Mic Comedy with Owen Hunt (Athentic Brewing Co.) Watch professional and amateur comedians from around the Southeast bring their best sets in a classic live show-up/go-up format. 6:30 p.m. (list), 7 p.m. (show). FREE! www.athenticbrewing.com GAMES: Thursday Trivia (Johnny’s New York Style Pizza) Jon Head hosts trivia every Thursday. Win pitchers and gift certificates. 7–9 p.m. www.johnnyspizza.com

Friday 30 ART: Morning Mindfulness (Georgia Museum of Art) Instructor-led meditation, movement and mindfulness techniques in the galleries. No experience necessary. Email to reserve a seat. Every other Friday, 9:30 a.m. gmoa-tours@uga.edu

Saturday 31 ART: Art for Justice Saturdays (AADM Justice Center and Bookstore) Paint to soothing music and discuss local issues. Supplies provided. All skill levels welcome.

Saturdays, 3–5 p.m. Donations accepted. www.aadmovement.org KIDSTUFF: Happy Noon Year! (ACC Library) Ring in the Noon Year with music, crafts and a countdown to noon with a balloon drop. All ages. 11 a.m. FREE! www.athens library.org KIDSTUFF: New Year Movie & Craft (Oconee County Library) Families can enjoy A Very Merry Pooh Year and make a few holiday crafts. All ages welcome. 1 p.m. FREE! www.athenslibrary.org/oconee EVENTS: New Year’s Eve CFP Watch Party & After-Party (Athentic Brewing Co.) Come cheer on UGA as they take on Ohio State for the College Football Playoff semifinal round, watch other Bowl Games from around the nation and stick around for a New Year’s Eve after-party. 11 a.m. (doors). FREE! www.athenticbrewing.com EVENTS: Peach Bowl Dance Party (Creature Comforts Brewery) There will be a screening of the Peach Bowl and a dance party with djbobfish and friends. 7–11 p.m. FREE! www.creaturecomfortsbeer.com

Sunday 1 EVENTS: New Year’s Day Polar Plunge (Sandy Creek Park) Kick off 2023 with a jump into the ice-cold waters of Lake Chapman. All ages welcome. Park rules apply. 3–4 p.m. $2. fb.me/e/2oKYWmLFF

happy hour featuring drink specials, snacks, games and a record player. Every Tuesday, 6–9 p.m. www. hendershotsathens.com EVENTS: Open Mic Hosted by Turtle Grenade (Flicker Theatre & Bar) Visual artists are invited to showcase their art alongside open mic performers sharing comedy, music, poetry and more. Sign-ups at 8 p.m. Hosted by Turtle Grenade every first Tuesday. 9 p.m.–12 a.m. FREE! www.flickertheatreandbar.com

Wednesday 4 ART: Tour at Two (Georgia Museum of Art) These drop-in public tours feature highlights of the permanent collection and are led by museum docents. 2 p.m. FREE! www.georgia museum.org LECTURES & LIT: Word of Mouth Poetry Open Mic (The Globe) Athens’ longest-running spoken word event has returned the first Wednesday of every month. Tonight’s featured reader is Lem LaRoche, aka Life the Griot. 7 p.m. FREE! www. facebook.com/athenswordofmouth

Thursday 5 GAMES: Thursday Trivia (Johnny’s New York Style Pizza) Jon Head hosts trivia every Thursday. Win pitchers and gift certificates. 7–9 p.m. www.johnnyspizza.com

Tuesday 3

Friday 6

EVENTS: Boulevard Brass Band (595 Nanthahala Ave.) Bring your band instrument, meet outdoors and rehearse songs simple enough for beginners and open to improvisation for more advanced musicians. Every Tuesday, 6–8 p.m. FREE! calclements@gmail.com EVENTS: No Phone Party (Hendershot’s) Disconnect to connect with a phone-free, laptop-free

COMEDY: 50 First Jokes (40 Watt Club) 1UP Comedy presents 50 of Georgia’s best comics sharing their first new joke of the year. 7 p.m. $10 (adv.), $12. www.40watt.com

Saturday 7 EVENTS: Bring One for the Chipper! (Various Locations) Give your

tree a second life as compost, mulch or fish habitat by bringing your undecorated tree to one of the seven drop-off locations and receive a free tree seedling in return. Visit website for locations. 9 a.m.–1 p.m. FREE! www.keepathens beautiful.org PERFORMANCE: Chien Hong Dragon Lion Dance Troupe (Oconee County Civic Center) Celebrate the new year with a traditional dance by Atlanta’s premiere dragon lion dance troupe. 10 a.m. FREE! www.athenslibrary.org/oconee PERFORMANCE: Athens Showgirl Cabaret (Hendershot’s) Come out for Athens Showgirl Cabaret’s first show of the year. All ages welcome. 8–11 p.m. FREE! www.athensshow girlcabaret.com

Sunday 8 ART: Reception: “Out and About” (Oconee County Library) View the Athens Area Plein Air Artists’ exhibition “Out and About” while enjoying acoustic music and light refreshments. 2–4 p.m. FREE! www. athenslibrary.org/oconee

Monday 9 SPORTS: Watch Party: NCAA Football National Championship Game (Athentic Brewing Co.) Cheer on your favorite team during the NCAA Football National Championship game. 7:30–11:30 p.m. FREE! www.athenticbrewing.com

Tuesday 10 EVENTS: Boulevard Brass Band (595 Nanthahala Ave.) Bring your band instrument, meet outdoors and rehearse songs simple enough for beginners and open to improvisation for more advanced musicians. Every Tuesday, 6–8 p.m. FREE! calclements@gmail.com

EVENTS: No Phone Party (Hendershot’s) Disconnect to connect with a phone-free, laptop-free happy hour featuring drink specials, snacks, games and a record player. Every Tuesday, 6–9 p.m. www. hendershotsathens.com LECTURES & LIT: Beth Ann Fennelly Book Reading and Signing (Fire Station #2) Former Mississippi Poet Laureate Beth Ann Fennelly will read from her work Heating & Cooling: 52 Micro- Memoirs. 5:30–7:30 p.m. FREE! events@avidbookshop.com MEETINGS: The University Woman’s Club (Alps Road Presbyterian Church) Megan Henning of UGA’s Terry College of Business will speak on nutrition and aging. New members welcome. Apply online. 11 a.m. FREE! www.womansclub. uga.edu

Wednesday 11 ART: Artful Conversation: Thornton Dial (Georgia Museum of Art) Sage Kincaid, associate curator of education, will lead an open-ended dialogue on Thornton Dial’s painting “Spirit of Grand Central Station: The Man That Helped the Handicapped.” Registration required. 2 p.m. FREE! www.georgiamuseum.org CLASSES: Beginner Bellydance (Healing Arts Centre) Join Sonya in a safe, loving and nonjudgmental environment for an introductory class. No dance background needed, and all fitness levels and body types are welcome. 6–7 p.m. FREE! www.healingartscentre.net

Down the Line 1/12 OLLI Fest (VFW (Post 2872)) 1/12 Winter River Painting Class (Athentic Brewing Co.) 1/14 Really, Really Free Market (Reese and Pope Park) 1/15 Georgia Bridal Show (The Classic Center) f

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F L A GP OL E .C OM · DE C E MB E R 28, 2022 & J A NU A R Y 4, 2023

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live music calendar Wednesday 28

TALL TALL TREES Experimental banjo player Mike Savino. Creature Comforts Brewery 7–11 p.m. www.creaturecomforts beer.com DJBOBFISH AND FRIENDS Local DJ leads an outdoor dance party. Flicker Theatre & Bar 8 p.m. www.flickertheatreandbar. com PERVERT New metal-punk band featuring members of Shade, Fart Jar and Bleachy Asshole. THE HERNIES Local riff-heavy rock band displaying influences from classic to indie rock.

Flicker Theatre & Bar 9 p.m. FREE! www.flickertheatreand bar.com DR. FRED’S KARAOKE Featuring a large assortment of pop, rock, indie and more. Hendershot’s 7–11 p.m. www.hendershotsathens. com NEW FACES NIGHT Hear people try out a new song, poem or joke, or share your own.

Flicker Theatre & Bar $10. 9 p.m. (doors). www.flicker theatreandbar.com THE ELECTRIC NATURE Experimental improv group that delves equally into psychedelic noise, dark and light ambient, blistering free rock, modular synthesis, formless drone voids and field recording manipulation. VILE BODY Ambient folk project from Lydian Brambila and Mat Lewis. G.A.G. Solo noise project of Athens musician Joyce Le Guin (wuornos, GA Power). Hendershot’s 8 p.m. www.hendershotsathens. com BIG BAND ATHENS This 18-member community band performs selections spanning from big band music of the ’40s to dance tunes of the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s. Southern Brewing Co. 6–10 p.m. www.sobrewco.com KARAOKE NIGHT Every Thursday evening.

of Dan Nettles and featuring Luca Lombardi, Seth Hendershot and various guests. The January residency shows coincide with Hendershot’s No Phone Parties, and also feature a special No Phone Party dark roast coffee blend.

Wednesday 4 Flicker Theatre & Bar 9 p.m. FREE! www.flickertheatreand bar.com DR. FRED’S KARAOKE Featuring a large assortment of pop, rock, indie and more.

Friday 6

Athentic Brewing Co. 6 p.m. FREE! www.athenticbrewing. com NICKALOUS BENSON Athens- based guitarist and member of The Orange Constant shares an acoustic set. Buvez 7–10 p.m. FREE! www.facebook. com/darkentriesathens DARK ENTRIES KARAOKE Sing your favorite song from a curated catalog of classic to modern goth, post-punk, punk and industrial.

JÜRGEN FRANK

Thursday 29

KARAOKE Ring in the new year with a round of karaoke. International Grill & Bar New Year’s Eve Party. 7 p.m. FREE! www.facebook.com/IGBAthensGA DIXIELAND FIVE Five-piece Dixieland jazz band. Nowhere Bar 6 p.m. www.facebook.com/ NowhereBarAthens FIVE EIGHT Legendary Athens band known for its boisterous, thoughtful rock and roll. MERCYLAND Reunited local punk band fronted by David Barbe, the owner, chief engineer, and producer of Chase Park Transduction studios

Sunday 8 Athentic Brewing Co. 2–5 p.m. FREE! www.athentic brewing.com BLUEGRASS JAM Players of all skill levels are invited to take place in this open jam, which strives to unite members of the local folk music community. Creature Comforts Brewery 3–5 p.m. www.creaturecomforts beer.com LIVE JAZZ Every Sunday afternoon. Oconee County Library Athens Area Plein Air Artists Exhibition Reception. 2 p.m. www. athenslibrary.org/oconee SHANE PARISH Master guitarist and fearless explorer of rhythm and timbre.

Friday 30 40 Watt Club 7 p.m. (doors). $7 (adv.), $10. www.40watt.com CAM AND HIS DAM JAM BAND Psych-tinged jam rock band. RAE AND THE RAGDOLLS Eclectic rock and roll band from Atlanta. THE PEAK No info available. Marigold Auditorium for Arts and Culture 7 p.m. (doors), 8 p.m. (show). $20–25. www.facebook.com/ AubreyEntertainmentAthensGA THE RANDALL BRAMBLETT BAND Local musician Randall Bramblett is joined by friends for a special holiday set. Terrapin Beer Co. 4–7 p.m. www.terrapinbeer.com STONEFIST Rock band from Atlanta specializing in a mix of ’60s, ’70s, ’80s and ’90s covers and original songs. VFW (Post 2872) 7 p.m. (doors). www.facebook.com/ vfwpost2872 LGBT MADNESS DJ Shut the Door and DJ Strictly Bidness lead a dance party.

Saturday 31 40 Watt Club 8 p.m. $30. www.40watt.com KISHI BASHI Classically trained violinist who uses his looping pedal and violin to craft exceedingly catchy and fluid pop songs.

Athentic Brewing Co. 6 p.m. FREE! www.athenticbrewing. com SYLVIA ROSE NOVAK Former Americana artist turned energetic rock-and-roller. Flicker Theatre & Bar 8 p.m. (doors). $12. www.flicker theatreandbar.com WELL KEPT Emo-influenced alt- rock group led by Tommy Trautwein. WYATT MORAN Indie folk rocker. JACK & JEALOUS Brother folk duo. STAY HERE Atlanta rock band. International Grill & Bar 7 p.m. FREE! www.facebook.com/ IGBAthensGA SPECTRE OF SURF 1950s and ’60s instrumental surf rock brought into the modern era. Rialto Club 7 p.m. $20 (adv.), $25. bit.ly/ TinlseyInAthens TINSLEY ELLIS Georgia troubadour and blues guitarist with over 40 years of performing behind him.

The Emerson String Quartet will perform at the Hugh Hodgson Concert Hall on Tuesday, Jan. 10. WEAPONIZED FLESH Local thrash metal band. RICHARD GUMBY Project of songwriter Scott Crossman. Georgia Theatre 7:30 p.m. (doors), 8:30 p.m. (show). $21. www.georgiatheatre. com MODERN SKIRTS Local indie rock group reunites for a show after breaking up in 2013. VISION VIDEO Local goth-pop group. TEDO STONE Laid back indie rock drawing comparisons to Dr. Dog and Neil Young. BOOTY BOYZ DJs blasting beats for the new year. Happy Top Lodge & Rest New Year’s Eve Show and Karaoke Party. 7 p.m. (doors), 8 p.m. (show). $5–10. www.instagram. com/happytop.lodge.rest FREEMAN LEVERETT Local guitarist and songwriter with dreamy, thoughtful songs and influences from around the world. EVELIA New local band. AD BLANCO Full-sounding, high-energy group influenced by indie rock and alternative rock. EVERGREEN Young group of high school students who debuted together on the KidsFest stage at the 2022 AthFest Music and Arts Festival.

and director of UGA’s Music Business program. VFW (Post 2872) 7 p.m. (doors), 8 p.m. (show). $15. www.facebook.com/vfwpost2872 CLASSIC RIVER BAND Classic country rock band.

Sunday 1 Creature Comforts Brewery 3–5 p.m. www.creaturecomforts beer.com LIVE JAZZ Every Sunday afternoon.

Tuesday 3 Flicker Theatre & Bar 8 p.m. (sign-ups), 9 p.m. (doors). FREE! www.flickertheatreandbar. com OPEN MIC HOSTED BY TURTLE GRENADE Musicians, poets, actors, comedians and other creatives are welcome to show their talents. Each participant gets 15 minutes. Every first Tuesday of the month. Hendershot’s January Residency. 7 p.m. www. kenoshakid.com/january KENOSHA KID Instrumental adventure-jazz group centered around the rollicking compositions

Hendershot’s 8 p.m. www.hendershotsathens. com HENDERSHOT’S OPEN MIC NIGHT Discover new Athens musical talent. Hosted by Lizzy Farrell.

Thursday 5 Flicker Theatre & Bar 8 p.m. $10. www.flickertheatreand bar.com FORCEGHOST Synth pop from Augusta. DON CHAMBERS & GEORGE DAVIDSON Improvised set. JOHN FERNANDES & DAVID MCCOY Ambient set. Georgia Theatre 8 p.m. $29.50. www.georgiatheatre. com BAILEY ZIMMERMAN Pop country artist. JOSH ROSS Canadian country singer-songwriter. Hendershot’s 8 p.m. www.hendershotsathens. com BICHOS VIVOS Local band playing forró, accordion and triangle-driven country music from Brazil, every first Thursday of the month. Southern Brewing Co. 6–10 p.m. www.sobrewco.com KARAOKE NIGHT Every Thursday evening.

Flicker Theatre & Bar 8 p.m. $10. www.flickertheatreand bar.com CONVINCE THE KID Alt-rock four- piece from Athens. HONEST CREATURE Soft alt-rock ballads. SWEAR JAR Local band exploring new horizons in punk, indie and alternative. Hendershot’s 8 p.m. $10. www.hendershots athens.com MIDNIGHT MAC Indie rock duo from Athens. COLE DZIEDZIC Singer-songwriter based in Chicago. International Grill & Bar 7 p.m. FREE! www.facebook.com/ IGBAthensGA SWING THEORY Big band jazz and swing. VFW (Post 2872) 8–11 p.m. www.facebook.com/ vfwpost2872 BONE DADDYS Country band with Southern rock and blues roots.

Tuesday 10 The Classic Center 7:30 p.m. www.classiccenter.com THE B-52S Legendary Athenian party rock band takes the stage for their “Final Tour Ever of Planet Earth.” Hendershot’s January Residency. 7 p.m. www. kenoshakid.com/january KENOSHA KID Instrumental adventure-jazz group centered around the rollicking compositions of Dan Nettles and featuring Luca Lombardi, Seth Hendershot and various guests. The January residency shows coincide with Hendershot’s No Phone Parties, and also feature a special No Phone Party dark roast coffee blend. Hugh Hodgson Concert Hall 7:30 p.m. $45–65. pac.uga.edu EMERSON STRING QUARTET World-renowned string quartet performing compositions by Beethoven as part of their farewell tour.

Saturday 7

Wednesday 11

40 Watt Club 9 p.m. $15 (adv.), $20. www.40watt.com NOCHE DE VERANO SIN TI DJ 6lactino spins Bad Bunny’s best tracks.

Flicker Theatre & Bar 9 p.m. FREE! www.flickertheatreand bar.com DR. FRED’S KARAOKE Featuring a large assortment of pop, rock, indie and more. f

DE C E MB E R 28, 2022 & J A NU A R Y 4, 2023· F L A GP OL E .C OM

bulletin board Deadline for getting listed in Bulletin Board is every THURSDAY at 5 p.m. for the print issue that comes out the following Wednesday. Online listings are updated daily. Email calendar@flagpole.com.

Art ATHENS CREATIVE DIRECTORY (Athens, GA) The ACD is a platform to connect creatives with patrons. Visual artists, musicians, actors, writers and other creatives are encouraged to create a free listing. www.athenscreatives.directory CALLS FOR ART (Athens, GA) The Athens Cultural Affairs Commission invites professional artists to submit public art applications for two sites on the Firefly Trail: a sculpture at the Old Winterville Road Trailhead and a functional sculpture for the rest area at the Indian Hills and Winterville Road intersection. Application deadline Jan. 13, 5 p.m. tatiana.veneruso@accgov. com, accgoc.com/4161/Athens- Cultural-Affairs-Commission CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS (Lyndon House Arts Center) This year’s 48th Juried Exhibition will be juried by Maria Elena Ortiz, curator at The Modern in Fort Worth, TX. Athens area visual artists, ages 18 and older, are invited to submit up to three entries for consideration. Submissions will be accepted via online entry form Jan. 4, 10 a.m.– Jan. 20, 5 p.m. Exhibition opens Mar. 2. $35 submission fee. www. accgov.com/lyndonhouse JOKERJOKERTV CALL FOR ARTISTS (Online) JOKERJOKERtv is open to ideas and actively accepting proposals for collaboration from visual/musical/video artists and curators living in Athens. Artists worldwide can also submit music videos, short films, skits and ideas to share with a weekly livestream audience. www.jokerjokertv.com/ submit OPEN STUDIOS (Lyndon House Arts Center) Studio members have access to spaces for painting, printmaking, photography, ceramics,

jewelry, fiber and woodworking. Tuesdays through Saturdays, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. $65/month. www. accgov.com/7350/Open-Studio- Membership SEEKING BOARD MEMBERS (Athens Institute for Contemporary Art: ATHICA) ATHICA is seeking new board members to help support and share the creative spirit of Athens. Complete the online application. bit.ly/athicaboard, www.athica.org

Classes CHAIR YOGA (Sangha Yoga Studio) This class is helpful for flexibility, strength, balance and increasing circulation and energy. All levels welcome. Every Thursday, 12–1 p.m. $16 (drop-in), $72 (six weeks). 706-613-1143 CHAIR YOGA AND MINDFULNESS (Winterville Center for Community and Culture) Nicole Bechill teaches a well-rounded, gentle and accessible chair yoga class to promote breathing, mindfulness and inward listening. Every Monday, 9 a.m. $10. www.wintervillecenter.com COMMUNITY DANCE IMPROV (work.shop) No experience necessary. Vaccines and boosters required. Sundays, 11 a.m.–12 p.m. Donations accepted. lisa yaconelli@gmail.com COMMUNITY MEDITATION (Rabbit Hole Studios) Jasey Jones leads a guided meditation suitable for all levels that incorporates music, gentle movement and silence. Wednesdays, 6–7 p.m. jaseyjones@gmail. com DEDICATED MINDFULNESS PRACTITIONERS (Online) Weekly Zoom meditations are offered every Saturday at 8:30–9:30 a.m. Email for details. richardshoe@gmail.com IMPROV COMEDY: LEVEL 1 (work. shop) Practice fundamental skills

art around town ARTWALL@HOTEL INDIGO ATHENS (500 College Ave.) New York-based photographers Lucy Reback and Megan Reilly share a collection of intimate vignettes of their relationship in addition to snapshots before they met. ATHENS-CLARKE COUNTY LIBRARY (2025 Baxter St.) “We Are All Makers” features artwork by Lyndon House Arts Center staff members Jaime Bull, Toni Carlucci, Didi Dunphy, Kathryn Refi, Ciel Rodriguez, Beth Sale, Williams Stephanos and Shannon Williams. Through Feb. 12. CLASSIC CENTER (300 N. Thomas St.) “Spotlight: Paintings by Amy Watts” presents bold, colorful canvases full of cowgirls, farmers, miners and Indigenous people. • “Light Bright” presents works by Caitlin Gal, Allison McPheeters and Alivia Patton, who all utilize simple circles to create inspiring works. THE GEORGIA POTTERY COLLECTIVE (560 Caldwell Circle) Jen Graff, Yoon Hwang and other local ceramicists sell sculptural and functional pottery. Every Wednesday and Sunday, 7 a.m.–7 p.m. DONDEROS’ KITCHEN (590 N. Milledge Ave.) Susan Pelham’s collages are inspired by Magic Realism, Surrealism, nursery rhymes and folk tales. Through December. FLICKER THEATRE & BAR (263 W. Washington St.) “S.A.D. Art” by Sadie Broe, Nate Malcolm, Krista Hadaway and Steph Rivers. Through December. • Artwork by Mildred Mildew. Jan. 1–28. GEORGIA MUSEUM OF ART (90 Carlton St.) “Infinity on the Horizon” highlights modern and contemporary works that expand common understandings of landscapes. Through December. • “Reckonings and Reconstructions: Southern Photography from The Do Good Fund.” Through

such as saying “Yes, and…,” creating interesting scenes, cultivating spontaneity and more. Tuesdays, Jan. 10–Feb. 14, 6–8 p.m. $150. www.flyingsquidcomedy.com/ classes KUNDALINI YOGA (Let It Be Yoga Studio, Watkinsville) Held Mondays, 5–6:30 p.m. $11 suggested donation. harsimran@innergies yoga.com MINDFULNESS PRACTICE EVENINGS (Online) Discuss and practice how to change your relationship with difficult thoughts and emotions. Email for the Zoom link. Second Friday of the month, 6–7 p.m. FREE! mfhealy@bellsouth.net OLLI CLASSES (OLLI@UGA) A variety of classes on art, computers, opera, health, science, politics, Tai Chi and more are offered throughout the year. OLLI also offers luncheon programs, travel opportunities, social activities and over two dozen special interest groups. Ages 50 and up. Visit the website for upcoming events. olli.uga.edu OPEN/COMMUNITY MEDITATION (Sangha Yoga Studio at Healing Arts Centre) Uma Rose leads a meditation designed to guide participants into stillness and silence. Mondays, 4–5 p.m. Donations encouraged. www.healingartscentre.net PAINTING CLASSES (Private Studio on Athens Eastside) One-on-one or small group adult classes are offered in acrylic and watercolor painting. Choose day workshops, ongoing weekly classes or feedback sessions. laurenadamsartist@ icloud.com PUBLIC DANCE (The Studio Athens) Beginner Rumba lessons followed by DJ’d waltz, swing, salsa, tango etc. Every fourth Saturday. 7:30–10 p.m. $5 (students), $10 (non-students). www.gmdance.com SALSA DANCE CLASSES (Cloud) Join SALSAthens for Cuban style

salsa dance classes. No partner necessary. Beginners welcome. Every Wednesday, 7–8 p.m. $10. gwyneth.moody@gmail.com SPANISH CLASSES (Athens, GA) For adults, couples and children. Learn from experts with years of professional experience. Contact for details. 706-372-4349, marinabilbao75@gmail.com, www.marina- spain-2020.squarespace.com TRADITIONAL MARTIAL ARTS CLASSES (Live Oak Martial Arts) Traditional and modern-style Taekwondo, self-defense, grappling and weapons classes are offered for all ages. Classes in Jodo, the art of the Japanese staff and sword, are held Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 7 p.m. Visit the website for a full schedule. liveoak martialarts@gmail.com, www. liveoakmartialarts.com YOGA (Elixir Movement Arts, Mercury A.I.R.) Build a yoga practice, deepen connections to yourself and others, and learn to use yoga in everyday life. “Vinyasa Flow” is also offered Mondays and Wednesdays, 10 a.m. $10/class. shelley downsyoga@gmail.com, www. shelleydownsyoga.offeringtree.com YOGA AND MORE (Revolution Therapy and Yoga) Jasey Jones leads weekly Raja Yoga classes covering meditation, pranayama, singing and discussion of yoga philosophy. Sundays, 5:05 p.m. Donations accepted. Private one-on-one yoga sessions with Kelsey Wishik can focus on strength building, mobility, relaxation and more. Saturdays, 11:30 a.m. $55. “Yoga Flow and Restore with Nicole Bechill” is held Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. Online classes include “Trauma Conscious Yoga with Crystal” Thursdays at 6 p.m. and “Yoga for Wellbeing with Nicole Bechill” on Saturdays at 10:45 a.m. www.revolutiontherapy andyoga.com YOGA CLASSES (Feel Free Yoga + Wellness) The new studio offers various class times and styles Mondays–Saturdays. A 45-minute class is offered Tuesdays at 8 a.m. on the patio of Molly’s Coffee. www.

Jan. 8. • “Allison Janae Hamilton: Between Life and Landscape.” Through Feb. 5. • “Kristin Leachman: Longleaf Lines” focuses on close-up views of the patterns and biology of the longleaf pine and its ecosystem. Through Feb. 5. • On view in the Jane and Harry Willson Sculpture Garden, “Jane Manus: Undaunted” includes five large abstract works. Through Feb. 12. • “In Dialogue: Henry Ossawa Tanner, Mentor and Muse.” Through June 18. • “Decade of Tradition: Highlights from the Larry D. and Brenda A. Thompson Collection.” Through July 3. GLASSCUBE@INDIGO (500 College Ave.) Zane Cochran presents “Aurora,” a sculptural interpretation of the aurora borealis using 3D geometric figures and lights. LYNDON HOUSE ARTS CENTER (211 Hoyt St.) The biennial Clarke County School District student art exhibition “RE-” features works by students in Kindergarten through 12th grade in all media. Through Jan. 14. • Collections from Our Community presents “Nancy Songster’s Tiny Houses,” a collection of festively decorated miniature interiors. Through Jan. 14. • “Resilient Civic and Musical Life: Ware-Lyndon House Enslaved and Descendant Stories” includes a film; reading room of books relevant to the African American experience in art, music and heritage; and a visual timeline relating a fuller and more truthful story of the property and its inhabitants. On view Thursdays–Saturdays. • Bess Carter, the recipient of the 2022 Art Center Choice Award from the 47th Juried Exhibition, presents a solo show of landscapes, room interiors and still life paintings. Artist talk Feb. 16. Currently on view through Mar. 4. • “A Pattern of Moments” features works by Kate Burke, Rebecca Kreisler and Sylvia Schaefer. Through Mar. 4. • In preparation for “The Same, Yet Separate Artworks,” metalsmith and interdisciplinary craft artist J Taran Diamond toured the Ware-Lyndon Historic House Museum and created new objects in response. Third Thursday Gallery Talk Jan. 19, 6 p.m. Currently on view through Mar. 4.

F L A GP OL E .C OM · DE C E MB E R 28, 2022 & J A NU A R Y 4, 2023

feelfreeyogawellness.com YOGA CO-OP ATHENS (555 Research Dr.) Founded by McKay Crowley, this is a new and accessible yoga space offering a variety of classes. Instructor Maggie Scruggs will offer $12 drop-in classes through the end of the year. maggiescruggs.com/takeaclass ZOOM YOGA (Online) Rev. Elizabeth Alder offers “Off the Floor Yoga” (chair and standing) on Mondays at 1:30 p.m. and “Easy on the Mat” yoga classes on Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. Ongoing classes are $5/class or $18/month. 706-612-8077, ommmever@yahoo.com

Kidstuff ALLEGRO MUSIC (Multiple Locations) Allegro Music offers outdoor music classes at Bishop Park, indoor classes at The Studio Athens and virtual classes. Now registering for winter classes for children ages infant through 4 years. allegro athens@gmail.com, www.allegro athens.com TREEHOUSE ACTIVITIES (Treehouse Kid & Craft) Saturday Crafterday is held every Saturday, 10 a.m. (ages 3–6) and 11 a.m. (ages 6 and up). Register by Friday at 6 p.m. $15. Storytime with Noah is all-ages and held every Monday, 11 a.m. FREE! www.treehousekidand craft.com TUTORING (Online) The Athens Regional Library System is now offering free, live online tutoring via tutor.com for students K-12, plus college students and adult learners. Daily, 2–9 p.m. www.athenslibrary. org

Support Groups ACA ADULT CHILDREN OF ALCOHOLICS AND DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILIES (Holy Cross Lutheran Church) This support group meets weekly. Tuesdays, 6:30–7:30 p.m. annetteanelson@gmail.com AL-ANON 12 STEP (Multiple Locations) Recovery for people affected by someone else’s drinking. Visit the website for a calendar of electronic meetings held throughout the week. www.ga-al-anon.org ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS (Athens, GA) If you think you have a problem with alcohol, call the AA hotline or visit the website for a

schedule of meetings in Barrow, Clarke, Jackson and Oconee Counties. 706-389-4164, www. athensaa.org ATHENS COUNCIL OF THE BLIND (Athens, GA) Open to people of all ages with vision impairments, their families and friends. Topics include adaptive equipment, recreational and social opportunities, and advocacy. 706-424-2794, dlwahlers@ gmail.com LGBTQIA+ VIRTUAL ALPHABET FAMILY GATHERING (Online) This is a safe space for anyone on the LGBTQIA+/TGQNB spectrum. Fourth Sunday of every month, 6–8 p.m. uuathensga.org/justice/ welcoming-congregation MENTAL HEALTH PEER RECOVERY GROUP (Nuçi’s Space) Participants support each other through life’s challenges by sharing from their skills, experiences and proven coping mechanisms. Newcomers welcome. First Tuesday of the month, 4–6 p.m. pr@nuci.org, www.nuci.org OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS (24th Street Clubhouse) Learn to stop eating compulsively or curb other unwanted food-related behaviors. Every Tuesday, 12 p.m. FREE! Text: 678-736-3697 PARKINSON’S SUPPORT GROUP (First Baptist Church) This group is to encourage, support and share information with fellow sojourners who manage the challenges of Parkinson’s disease or other movement disorders. Second Friday of every month, 1 p.m. gpnoblet@ bellsouth.net PROJECT SAFE (Family Protection Center) Project Safe hosts a support group for survivors of domestic violence. Mondays, 6:30–8 p.m. www. project-safe.org RECOVERY DHARMA (Recovery Dharma) This peer-led support group offers a Buddhist-inspired path to recovery from any addiction. Visit the website for details. Thursdays, 7 p.m. FREE! www.athens recoverydharma.org SEX ADDICTS ANONYMOUS (Athens, GA) Athens Downtown SAA offers a message of hope to anyone who suffers from a compulsive sexual behavior. Contact for location. www.athensdowntownsaa.com SUPPORT GROUPS (Integrity Counseling & Personal Development) ICPD offers several support groups. “LGBTQIA+ Young Adults Group” is offered for ages 18–30. Email for

MADISON-MORGAN CULTURAL CENTER (434 S. Main St., Madison) Joni Mabe, creator of Everything Elvis in Cornelia, GA, presents “Calvacade of Stars,” a group of glitter mosaics depicting Elvis Presley, Otis Redding, Ty Cobb, Steve McQueen, P.T. Barnum and other luminaries of the entertainment world. Through Jan. 28. OCONEE COUNTY LIBRARY (1080 Experiment Station Rd.) The Athens Plein Air Artists present “Out and About,” a collection of works inspired by nature. Reception Jan. 8, 2–4 p.m. Currently on view through Jan. 23. ODUM SCHOOL OF ECOLOGY GALLERY (140 E. Green St.) Natural science illustrator C Olivia Carlisle shares insect, botanical and ecosystems illustrations using graphite, carbon pencil, watercolor, acrylic, ink, color pencils and Adobe Photoshop. Through May. UGA SPECIAL COLLECTIONS LIBRARIES (300 S. Hull St.) “Unequal by Design: Housing in Georgia and America” draws upon historic government documents, photographs, historic newspapers and other records to trace the evolution of housing policy, tackling issues such as zoning, gentrification and suburbanization. Through May 26. • “A Chance to Play: Title IX and Women’s Athletics at UGA” celebrates 50 years of women’s sports at UGA. UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST FELLOWSHIP OF ATHENS (780 Timothy Rd.) The newly named Claire and Robert Clements Gallery debuts with a collection of oil paintings by Robert Clements. THE VALTON (625 Barber St., Suite 120) Located inside of STATE the Label, this new gallery space debuts with a solo show of works by its namesake, self-taught artist Valton Murray. Through January. WINTERVILLE LIBRARY (115 Marigold Lane, Winterville) “Words About Birds, Insights About Insects” by Vicky Tavernier and Jennifer Borg consists of playful collages of found and altered objects with accompanying poems. Through Feb. 11.

The Athens Area Plein Air Artists are presenting a group exhibition “Out and About” at the Oconee County Library through Jan. 23. A reception with the artists will be held Jan. 8, 2–4 p.m. Pictured above is “Landscape” by Leslie Guo.

May 6th • 12-7pm

Historic Downtown Commerce Georgia CALLING ALL ARTISTS!

Now accepting applications for the Harmony Grove Arts Festival. We are looking for a variety of artists. Email civiccenter@commercega.gov or call 706-335-6417 for more information Apply by February 17th

TO APPLY VISIT WWW.HARMONYARTFEST.COM

Commerce Civic Center

this year's edition of SLACKPOLE!

Artist: Kip Ramey

Happy Holidays Y'all, and enjoy

ATHENS BEER TRAIL TROLLEY TOURS (Athens, GA) A new trolly tour will provide transportation between six local breweries: Akademia, Athentic, Creature Comforts, Southern Brewing, Terrapin Beer and Normaltown Brewing. Tours run every Thursday and Friday from 3–9 p.m. www.athenstrolleytours.com/ beer-trolley-tour BRING ONE FOR THE CHIPPER (Multiple Locations) Keep Athens- Clarke County Beautiful invites people to drop off undecorated Christmas trees to be recycled into compost, mulch or fish habitat. Participants will receive a free tree seedling in return. Visit the website for a list of seven drop-off locations. Jan. 7, 9 a.m.–1 p.m. www. keepathensbeautiful.org CORNHOLE LEAGUE REGISTRATION (Southern Brewing Co.) Now registering for the seven-week winter league. Four different divisions of play are offered to accommodate all levels. League meets Wednes-

RABBIT HOLE EVENTS (Rabbit Hole Studios) Acoustic Song Circles (Mondays and Thursdays, 7–11 p.m.), Open Mic (Tuesdays, 7–11 p.m.), Seventh Generation Native American Church services and community potlucks (Sundays, 11 a.m.) and drum circles (Sundays, 1–2 p.m.). Wednesday Yoga (5 p.m.) is followed by Meditation (6 p.m.) and an Integration Circle (7 p.m.) Events are free or donation based. www.rabbitholestudios.org/ calendar RAIN BARRELS (ACC Department of Transportation and Public Works) Barrel kits include a recycled 55-gallon plastic drum and RainRecycle installation kit from the Rain Barrel Depot, including a FlexiFit downspout diverter. Barrels must be pre-ordered online. $30. www. accgov.com/10477/Rain-Barrel- Order-Form STORMWATER CALENDARS (ACC Transportation and Public Works Department) Calendars are free and can be picked up or mailed to local addresses. accgov.com/10562/ Request-a-Stormwater-Calendar WINTER REGISTRATION (Athens, GA) The Athens-Clarke County Leisure Services Department offers a variety of activities highlighting the arts, environmental science, recreation, sports and holiday events for adults and children. Now registering. Scholarships available. www.accgov.com/myrec WORK.SHOP (160 Winston Dr.) Open rehearsal and performance space for theater, comedy, dance, classes and events. $10/hour. lisayaconelli@gmail.com, www. workshopathens.com f

that we totally planned for.

Word on the Street

days, Jan. 11–Feb. 22, 6–9 p.m. info@cornholeatl.com ICE SKATING VOLUNTEERS (Classic Center, Atkins Ford Arena) The Classic Center is seeking organizations to volunteer at the skate rental center. Volunteers will early $1 per paid skater towards their non-profits. Email to participate. stephanie@classiccenter.com MARGO METAPHYSICAL EVENTS (Margo Metaphysical) Monday Tarot Readings offered 1–5 p.m. ($6 per card). Tuesday Tarot with Davita offered 4–6 p.m. ($5 per card). Wednesday Night Sound Healing with Joey held 6–7:30 p.m. ($35). Thursday Tarot with Courtney is offered 12–5 p.m. ($10–45). Friday Henna Party with Aiyanna ($10–75). 706-372-1462 PAUL T. MARTIN HOSPITALITY EDUCATION FUND (Athens, GA) The Classic Center Cultural Foundation provides $25,000 from the education fund to individuals interested in pursuing careers in hospitality, event, music or sports management. Students enrolled in hospitality industry programs at UGA, Athens Tech and Athens Community Career Academy are encouraged to apply. Deadline Feb. 17. foundation@ classiccenter.com, www.classic center.com/scholarships RABBIT BOX (VFW Post 2872) Seeking storytellers to share seven-minute true tales. Upcoming themes include “Ready or Not” in January, “Duets” (two presenters at a time) in February, “Mystifying” in March, “Awkward!” in April and “Gone but not Forgotten” in May. Email to participate. rabbitboxstories@ gmail.com

This is an ad for flagpole.com

dates. “Survivors of Suicide Loss Group” is offered the first Wednesday of every month, 7–8 p.m. Register by emailing avipperman@ gmail.com. “Veterans, Dependents & Caregivers Benefits Resource & Claim Assistance Group” is offered the first Saturday of every month, 9–10 a.m. “How to Talk About Bullying Workshop for Parents & Children” is held Jan. 7, 10:30 a.m.–11:30 a.m. $10. lbennett. icpd@gmail.com, www.integrityof jefferson.com

110 State Street

Lingerie

MENTION “LINGERIE”

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DE C E MB E R 28, 2022 & J A NU A R Y 4, 2023· F L A GP OL E .C OM

classifieds Buy It, Sell It, Rent It, Use It! Place an ad anytime, email class@flagpole.com

 Indicates images available at classifieds.flagpole.com

REAL ESTATE HOUSES FOR RENT House, 3BR/2BA in Normaltown. Central air. Apartment, 2BR/1BA. Furnished. Washer/dryer. Wi-Fi. No smokers, pets. 706-3721505 Get Flagpole delivered to your mailbox! $50 for six months or $90 for one year. Email frontdesk@flagpole.com.

MUSIC INSTRUCTION Athens School of Music. Now offering in-person and online instruction in guitar, bass, drums, piano, voice, brass, woodwinds, strings, banjo, mandolin and more. From beginner to expert, all styles. Visit www.athens schoolofmusic.com, 706543-5800.

VOICE LESSONS: Specializing in older (50+) beginners and intermediates. Gift certificates available. Contact stacie.court@ gmail.com or 706-424-9516.

MUSIC SERVICES Instant cash is now being paid for good vinyl records & CDs in fine condition. Wuxtry Records, at corner of Clayton & College Dwntn. 706-369-9428.

SERVICES CLEANING Peachy Green Clean Cooperative, your local friendly green cleaners! Free estimates. Call or go online today: 706-248-4601, www. peachygreencleancoop. com Need newspapers for your garden? There are plenty here at the Flagpole office! Call ahead and we’ll have them ready. 706-549-0301

flagpole classifieds REACH OVER 30,000 READERS EVERY WEEK! Business Services Real Estate Music For Sale

Employment Vehicles Messages Personals

BASIC RATES * Individual Real Estate Business (RTS) Run-‘Til-Sold** Online Only***

$10 per week $14 per week $16 per week $40 per 12 weeks $5 per week

*Ad enhancement prices are viewable at flagpole.com **Run-‘Til-Sold rates are for MERCHANDISE ONLY ***Available for individual rate categories only

PLACE AN AD • Call our Classifieds Dept. 706-549-0301 • Email us at class@flagpole.com

• Deadline to place ads is 11:00 a.m. every Monday for the following Wednesday issue • All ads must be prepaid

HEALTH Make your new year’s resolutions come true! James Hilton Hypnosis: Smoking, weight, stress. Harvard-trained, nationally certified. 678-8954278, jimhilton911@yahoo. com, www.hiltonhypnosis. webs.com

HOME AND GARDEN Plumber Pro Service & Drain. Upfront pricing. Free estimates. $30 Flagpole discount. Call 706-769-7761. Same-day service available. www.plumberproservice. com Woman-Run Gardening Services: Plan(t) for Spring! We offer bed building, maintenance, invasive plant removal, personalized native & edible gardens for your home or business. Call/Text: 706-395-5321

MISC. SERVICES Where will your memories go? Preserve your personal history, for your family–for the nation. Tell Your Story! Call/email: 564-209-0957, tysvideograph@gmail.com Flagpole ♥s our advertisers.

JOBS FULL-TIME Apparel and poster screen printing company, RubySue Graphics is looking for full-time team members to help in the ink room and production floor. Located just 2.5 miles from downtown Athens. Must be able to multitask, have a good eye for detail and be able to lift 40 lbs. Work hours are Mon–Fri., 9 a.m.–6 p.m. w/ hour lunch break. Contact jobs@rubysuegraphics.com to set up an on-site interview and for more information. UberPrints is now hiring for multiple positions! Both full and part-time positions available. For more information and applications, go to uberprints.com/company/ jobs

OPPORTUNITIES White Tiger is now hiring for all positions at the Athens and Watkinsville locations! No experience necessary. Email work history or resume to catering@white tigergourmet.com Flagpole ♥s our readers.

Do you like driving, know your way around town and need some extra cash? Flagpole needs reliable substitute drivers for when our regular drivers are out! Email frontdesk@flagpole.com to be included in emails about future Distribution opportunities. Ability to follow instructions, attention to detail and Tuesday availability required! Previous delivery experience preferred.

All Georgians over six months of age are eligible for COVID vaccines, and ages 5+ are eligible for boosters! Call 706-3400996 or visit www.publichealthathens.com for more information.

PART-TIME Join a diverse, inclusive workplace, and get paid to type! 16–40 hours M–F. NEVER be called in for a shift you didn’t sign up for. Must type 65+ wpm, wear mask, show proof of vaccination. Work independently. No customer interaction. Starts at $13 with automatic increases. www.ctscribes. com Find employees by advertising in the Flagpole Classifieds! Call 706-549-0301.

NOTICES MESSAGES Flagpole ♥s our donors.

ADOPT ME! ACC Animal Services 125 Buddy Christian Way 706-613-3540 Call for appointments. Available animals can be seen online at www.accgov.com/257/Available-Pets Athens Area Humane Society 1030 Mitchell Bridge Rd 706-769-9155 Due to reduced business hours, call if you are interested in adopting. Available animals can be seen online at : www.athenshumanesociety.org

DONATE! FOSTER! ADOPT! THANKS!

F L A GP OL E .C OM · DE C E MB E R 28, 2022 & J A NU A R Y 4, 2023

flagpole

SUDOKU

Edited by Margie E. Burke

Difficulty: Medium

SUDOKU

5 5 7 3

6 1

1 6 9 7 4 2 1 7

7 3 4 5 9 4 1 9 5 1 8 8 5

9 8

HOW TO SOLVE:

The Weekly Crossword 3

3 6 25 8 31 2 35 7 40 1 45 9 5 51 4

by Margie E. Burke 9

9 7 27 1 8 4 5 2 49 3 6

5 23 3 9 4 36 8 2 6 1 7

8 2 632 7 141 3 5 4 9

4 1 7 537 9 6 46 3 2 8

6 4 333 9 242 8 1 7 5

HOW TO SOLVE:

The Weekly Crossword 1

34 38

39 43

44 48

4 8 25 9 30 7 34 5 38 3 6 2 49 1

2 1 26 7 4 6 8 44 3 9 50 5

5 6 27 3 9 1 2 7 47 4 8

8 23 9 1 2 7 39 6 4 5 3

7 5 4 3 840 9 1 6 2

3 2 6 135 4 545 8 7 9

19 Liqueur flavor 21 Campaign poster word 24 Lawnmower part 25 Smells 26 ___ noir (wine) 27 Drunk 28 Month for some Pisces 29 Adversary 30 Run-down 33 Wears well 36 Like some watermelons 38 Radio knob 41 Contemptuous look 43 Rice variety 46 Windy one 48 Type of voyage 50 Central spot 51 Q-Tip 52 "Moonstruck" star 53 Weaponry 54 Headey of "Game of Thrones" 55 SpaceX CEO Musk 56 Arid 58 Junior's junior

Solution to Sudoku:

ACROSS 1 Thespian's milieu 50 Elevated ground 6 Where the check 51 Libra's symbol might be 53 Frequent flier 10 Rx unit rewards 14 Solitary sort 57 Crane, e.g. 15 Camera setting 59 Fred Astaire's 16 Mixed dish sis 17 Do penance 60 Awfully long time 18 Set up, as 61 Uses crosshairs software 62 Carreras is one 20 Urban housing 63 Resting places 22 Like some skates 64 General meaning 23 Anger, with "up" 65 Totally absurd 24 Slightly wet 25 Morphine, for one DOWN 28 "_____, Inc." 1 Thin strip (Pixar movie) 2 Carryall bag 31 Cacophony 3 Soon, to a bard 32 Showy display 4 Taxonomic 34 Chill-inducing categories 35 Snake eyes 5 Recluse 37 Medium's card 6 TV's "Castle 39 High praise Rock" setting 40 Spa garments 7 Jane Fonda, to 42 Hit the dirt? Bridget 44 Little bit 8 "___ showtime!" 45 Medicinal 9 Hand soother potency 10 Election figure 47 That is to say 11 Unable to read 49 "Don't get any 12 Bank claim bright ___!" 13 Miner's bonanza

1 3 231 6 941 4 5 8 7

9 428 5 8 3 7 2 1 6

624 7 8 5 2 1 9 48 3 51 4

29 32

37 42

57 60 62

ACROSS 1 Bottle stopper 5 Poker token 9 Like some lingerie 13 ____ the edge 14 Nitpickers split them 16 Bounce back 17 Group of representatives 19 Wound mark 20 "Alice Doesn't Live Here ____" 21 Crack 23 Fireplace fodder 24 "See eye to eye", e.g. 25 Untimely end 28 Chest protector 30 Clear of charges 32 Speck in the sea 34 Except 35 Floor it 37 Brewed drink 38 Pledge of fidelity 41 Outer border 44 Surfer's ride 46 Lustrous fabric 47 Brady mom 48 Chris whose father starred in "CHiPs"

by Margie E. Burke

1 724 828 9 2 5 6 1 5 3 7 4 4 8 50 9 6 353 2

Each row must contain the numbers 1 to 9; each column must contain the numbers 1 to 9; and each set of 3 by 3 boxes must contain the numbers 1 to 9. Week of 1/2/23 - 1/8/23

Solution to Sudoku: 21

2 5 26 4 3 6 9 7 8 52 1

17 20

Each row must contain the numbers 1 to 9; each column must contain the numbers 1 to 9; and each set of 3 by 3 boxes must contain the numbers 1 to 9. Week of 12/26/22 - 1/1/23

5 8 6 8 9 9 5 7 1 8 5 3 2 9 6

3 1

Edited by Margie E. Burke

Difficulty: Easy

49 Really bad 51 Personalize, in a way 55 Ness, e.g. 56 Game played on grass 58 Kind of shirt 59 Make reparations 60 On the peak of 61 Big first for baby 62 Washstand vessel 63 Jane's "Grace and Frankie" co-star DOWN 1 Musical finale 2 Kind of mitt 3 Depend (on) 4 Russian citadel 5 Los Angeles team 6 Despises 7 Sundial number 8 Wartime opportunist 9 Teaching sessions 10 Stockpile 11 Burn a bit

12 Days of ___ 15 Like some remarks 18 Gander's mate 22 iPhone assistant 25 Financial worry 26 Affluent outlying area 27 "Easy Rider" ride 28 Animal in a roundup 29 Commotion 31 Higher court 33 Cousin of a gull 36 Exhume 39 London cafe 40 Do damage to 42 Animal ailment 43 Without end 45 Bearlike marsupial 48 Tubular pasta 49 Heidi's home 50 Send packing 52 Pro's foe 53 Stringed instrument of old 54 Get a look at 57 Palindromic exclamation

Puzzle answers are available at www.flagpole.com/puzzles

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DE C E MB E R 28, 2022 & J A NU A R Y 4, 2023· F L A GP OL E .C OM

I ta l i a n c a f e

g n i t a r b e l Ce & MUSIC FESTIVAL

s ar e Y 5 3 of Good Food and Good Times in Athens, Ga

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EASTSIDE

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Drawing for 2 FREE MEMBERSHIPS!

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F L A GP OL E .C OM · DE C E MB E R 28, 2022 & J A NU A R Y 4, 2023

River’s Crossing, 850 College Station Rd, Athens GA 30602 | (706) 542-7715

slackpole Written and Illustrated by Our Readers S

lackpole highlights all of the charms and quirks of Athens. Our staff is thankful for all of our Flagpole readers who contribute to writing and illustrating our end-of-the-year annual issue, allowing us to take a break during the holidays. We hope that all of you enter the new year in good health and happiness. We’ll be back with the first Flagpole of 2023 on Jan. 11.

An Old Dog By Eric Somerville I have an old dog. She is what you hear folks call a “Georgia black dog,” or simply, a GBD. She is generally very friendly around other people and other animals. Just a good ol’ dog. When we picked her up from the animal shelter as a one or two year old, we noticed a hairless ring around her back ankle. Little did we know then that this dog—we named her Melon—was a wanderer and could climb like a ringtailed lemur. Early one afternoon I was in the backyard when I heard the fence rattling. I turned and looked just in time to see Melon climbing “hand over foot” through the chain link. I stood there slack-jawed while my brain tried desperately to make sense of what I was seeing. I didn’t know whether to be angry as hell or proud and excited to have myself a genuine climbing dog! Sometimes I would be out front when Melon would appear in the side yard, making it for the street. I would yell at her, and I swear she would glance a little sideways at me and grin as she turned to head up the hill. Later we would get telephone calls: “Hi, this is so-and-so! I think we have your dog.” “Oh goodness,” we would reply. “Thank you so much! Where can we pick her up?” The wonderful caller on the other end of the line would reply, “We are on Southview,” or “We’re near Memorial Park,” or “We’re sitting on the Jittery Joe’s patio up on Baxter.” Inevitably these places were far from our home, and Melon would have crossed many busy streets to get there. I had come to understand more clearly the origin of her hairless anklet. Eventually I bought a kit to electrify my backyard fence. I spent hours one Saturday wiring everything up, and yelped like a little girl when I first discovered that it worked. My wife was nervous, and my young children were scared when I put the collar on Melon that afternoon. We all held our breath as Melon got closer to her favorite climbing spot near the garden. Eventually she stepped a little too close to the fence and let out a yelp and darted away from whatever had reached out from the ether to zap her. My wife sighed and hung her head. My children gasped and threw their little hands over their mouths. I pumped my fists and whooped and hollered like I had just scored the winning goal. Later, I stood at the kitchen counter chopping vegetables, reminiscing on the day’s success. I saw out the window that Melon was making her circuit towards the garden. She approached gingerly, even apprehensively. She stopped and stared pensively across the void, through the fence to the great unfathomable universe beyond. And then, I swear

that she glanced a little sideways at me up in the window and grinned as she stepped through the electric cloud, shook off the blows like Muhammed Ali and scaled the fence in world record time. She landed on the other side and never looked back. Melon continued leading herself on adventures her whole life. She’s been lost in the mountains for days at a time. Friends, neighbors and complete strangers have brought her home more times than I can count. At least a handful of times she has wandered no fewer than 10 miles or more from where we last saw her. But now I have an old dog. She’s just a GBD, and she’s asleep right here next to me.

Happiness in Hospice By Liz Conroy Pushing a heavy, elderly person along in a wheelchair isn’t easy. Bumping my Aunt Marty’s toes right into a door was not a good way to begin. “Ouch,” she said politely. We were headed out of her hospice unit into the Illinois sunshine, so she still smiled. My outspoken aunt is the “last leaf on the tree,” in her words. Having outlived her parents, siblings and most of her friends, she’s ready to depart. Asked about hospice, she declared, “It’s great. They bring me pain medications, but now I can say, ‘Take them away; I just want aspirin.’” Along with meds, her diet is relaxed. Dessert after lunch and cookies before bedtime are A-OK. She is Martha Istvan, born in 1931 to parents who emigrated from Czechoslovakia. The youngest in a large family living on a farm in Ohio, they survived on what they could grow throughout the Depression and during WWII. It was a way of life that is now gone in much of modern America. When I tell her that she was lucky to be raised on organic vegetables and grass-fed meat, she harrumphs and says, “Well, of course. That’s all we had back then!” She did well in her one-room schoolhouse and later in high school. Wanting to see the world meant seeking a higher education—against her father’s objections—and becoming fluent in French at Baldwin Wallace College. While studying abroad as a poor student in France, she hitchhiked with friends to see as much of the country as she could. We stopped to talk about her travels near a garden where the warm, late summer breezes blew gently on our faces. My aunt described hitchhiking as the way to practice the language as well as explore areas outside of Paris. She traveled with a girlfriend who was struggling a bit with French. When a man in a nice suit offered them a ride, they hopped into his car, and he chatted freely. Suddenly, he turned off the main road and began driving down side streets. Aunt Marty and her friend were sitting in the back seat together, and my aunt saw something silver flash on her companion’s lap. It was a sharp knife. “What are you doing with that?” she asked. Her friend whispered back, “This is a bad guy. He’s kidnapping us!” My aunt replied, “Try to listen more carefully. He’s a candy salesman! He’s making stops at sweet shops to deliver his candies.” Finally, Aunt Marty grew quiet. All that talking had tired her out. When that happens, her memory starts to fade. I got up from the bench and began pushing her wheelchair back to her room where she could nap. On the way, she

shared another gem: “As a young woman in a foreign country, I had to be cautious. But I also learned to listen and observe with an open mind. Travel helped me develop those skills. By paying attention, I discovered how the whole world is a teacher.”

TN Stud By Eddie Whitlock I whipped her brother, and I whipped her paw. Then we rode off, me and Annie, to the little cabin I’d built over in the territory. A fellow that said he was a preacher married us. He give us a slip of paper and said to stick it in the family Bible. We didn’t have nar’n, so we stuck it on the wall with pine gum. I had laid us up store before I brought Annie out. What I thought would last a year didn’t go half that long after the young’un was born. I got up one morning and rode to Madison, taking Annie’s mare with me. It took all day to get back and forth, but it had to be done. She cussed me good about selling her horse, but she was glad to have the grub I brought home with me. When we finally got the crops going, beans was the only thing that done good. The corn got chest high and dried up. Bad seed or bad luck, nothing else come up at all. When the baby got sick, we done everything we knowed to make it better. Annie made a camphor poultice her mama had used. I’d dose it with some whiskey when it went to squalling. Didn’t nothing make it better. I buried the baby towards the east side of the place. I put a rock up there where Annie could know where it was. Something dug it up a week or two later. I covered up the hole and kept my mouth shut about it. After the baby died, I missed the little thing. With it gone, it looked like me and Annie didn’t have nothing left but work, and a heap of it. One morning late in the summer, two men come riding up. They wanted me to sign a paper saying I supported statehood. They give me a dollar, so I signed their paper. I asked them if Annie could sign for a dollar. They shook their heads and laughed. One of them throwed me another dollar, and they was still laughing when they rode off. Annie said we ought to get us some chickens. Her people raised chickens in Shelby and done good with it. It sounded like it might work if we was lucky. We got to talking about having more young’uns. It commenced to raining in September, and the blamed roof went to leaking. I tried to patch it from the inside but couldn’t. I went outside in the storm and climbed up. I fell, caught my leg between timbers, and broke it. Annie got me on the back of the horse on my belly. She rode us to Madison and found the doctor. I about died, and my leg never was right after that. I never seen Annie again. I sent a fellow to check the cabin. He said it had burned down. My hobbled leg didn’t leave me fit for much work. I spent the rest of my days washing dishes at the public house in Madison. It was as good a life as I reckon you can have, but I wish she hadda left me that horse. I could still picture his green eyes long after I forgot what Annie looked like. ➤ continued on next page

DE C E MB E R 28, 2022 & J A NU A R Y 4, 2023· F L A GP OL E .C OM

ANNA FORRESTER

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A Rare Winter Snow By Jill Hartmann-Roberts My friend Mary and I hit it off from the first time we met at the Heirloom Café brunch bar. It’s the best spot for getting to know the staff and for meeting new friends. Starting up a conversation with a stranger is easy when you’re sitting elbow to elbow. Mary and I have celebrated birthdays, work anniversaries and New Year’s Eve at the Heirloom. On the day my dog Reggie was put to sleep, I brought him to the Heirloom for his last meal. Mary didn’t know about Reggie yet. Perhaps it was serendipity that she just happened to stop by the patio for lunch that afternoon and was able to see Reggie one last time. The following winter, Mary and I shared a different type of memory at the Heirloom Café. Feb. 8, 2020 started out like any other Saturday morning brunch at the Heirloom for Mary and me. Until, light snow began to fall. The flurries looked like white feathers. Within an hour, the snow began falling heavily on the cars, bushes and pavement. Children laughed and danced in circles in the parking lot. College students climbed inside the bed of the famous blue Heirloom truck to take photos. Not a single patron entered the restaurant without wisps of white lingering on their hats and coats. As for Mary and me, we simply sat quietly, taking it all in. Before we left, Mary asked one of the restaurant staff to take photos of the two of us standing in front of the Heirloom truck. As we posed for the camera, Mary said, “Look up!” I tilted my head up toward the sky and was amazed at the crystal-like scene. The view of the snow from that angle reminded me of looking through the glass prisms of a chandelier. We opened our mouths wide, and the freezing cold snow tickled our tongues. As the snow fell faster, and the blankets of white grew thicker, I started to feel pangs in my stomach. I was going to have to drive home in the snow for the first time in my life! I had no idea what to do. Mary advised me to take my foot off the accelerator and try not to press hard on the brake. “Don’t panic if the car starts to skid. Steer into it, and go slow.” My car was covered in snow. I took a deep breath as I shifted the car into reverse with the wiper blades on full speed. Following Mary’s instructions, I eased out of the parking lot onto Boulevard and then cautiously turned right onto N. Chase Street. As I began to relax, I guided the car as if I’d been doing this all my life. It’s impossible to describe the thrill I felt! Driving down Prince Avenue, I was laughing aloud and exclaiming to no one at all, “I’m driving in the snow! I’m driving in the snow!” The snow continued falling all the way home. Thanks to Mary’s advice, I made it back without a single skid. Mary suggested that we send copies of our photos to the café owner, Jessica. She absolutely loved our pictures and

posted one of them on the Heirloom Instagram page. This memoir is dedicated to everyone I’ve ever met at the Heirloom Café. You may never know what you and your restaurant have meant to my life these past seven years. To say you will be missed is an understatement. May your lives always be as beautiful as that rare winter snow.

OLD for the Old By Rich Strom Well, I probably lost all of the millennial and Gen Z readers already, but this should be the nail in the coffin. This article is about online dating for the old. Ughh! Please give me a chance as I believe that there is something funny about a 60 plus year old trying to be a player. I’ve been on most of the dating websites. There is Our Time, which basically says “I am old, what about you?” I’ve tried Tinder, but when I swipe right the computer just turns off. I thought that I might want to go out with a Jewish woman, so I tried Too Many Gefilte Fish in the Sea. On that one I would usually get the Jewish whine… “I want to go to Boca!” I did get kicked off eHarmony, because when they asked me what I want in a woman, I said my penis.

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Now if you do get that first date, you basically get 30 minutes to tell them everything that’s wonderful about you, while glossing over the not-so-good stuff. I would tell them that I am Rich, but it wouldn’t take long for them to figure out that it was in name only. I might get to a second date, where the conversation gets a bit deeper. Right up front I tell them that I don’t want to have kids, because I don’t want anyone changing diapers for me and the kid at the same time. I have had some success though. A couple of dates I got to first base, only to be picked off on the way to second. By the third date, my confidence is building, and I am getting ready to put on the moves. Wait, I don’t have any! I’ll pat her on the head. No, that’s if you like a dog. I’ll rub her belly. No, that might make her laugh or her leg kick. I’ll look up what I should do on the internet! Oh my, do people really do that kind of stuff, and how do they avoid pulling a muscle? Well, I have learned a few things over the years that I am willing to share with you youngsters: “Love the one you’re with.” That will get divorce papers served to you if it is not your spouse. “If you ask 100 women to go out with you, someone will say yes.” Didn’t work for me. “If you keep touching yourself there, you will go blind.” I can still see, but with the help of glasses. Well, I think you see why I am single again. Never give

up, and hopefully, we will all find whatever it is we are looking for. Love, Rich and Single

Praise-Song for a Post-Industrial Greenway By Carson Colenbaugh We came down to the riverside In search of bliss, but only found That strangling weeds, a leafy tide, Had flooded out our pleasure ground. O turf of stiltgrass, snowy bells! O mimosa, your flossy hem! I must admit they overfill This footpath once grown stout with flowers, Self-organized and verdant. Still They dance the dance, they flaunt the hours. O honeysuckle, kudzu hell! O ragweed, star-of-bethlehem!

of how calming it was to be in the presence of horses—to brush them, to smell them, to simply share their physical space. Over the course of my first two months of riding, my instructor Heidi helped me build a bond with my horse as well as a better bond with my own body. I expected riding to help with my back pain, but I had no idea that I would experience a reduction in my widespread chronic pain. It was almost as if my body forgot how to hurt while I was on the farm, and that carried over into my day-to-day life to some extent. I received more healing than expected for my physical body but, beyond that, I received mental health benefits that no other form of therapy or medication had ever been able to give me. I had suffered from chronic PTSD since the end of an abusive relationship in 2004. Within a few months of beginning therapy at BDF, things that once caused me intense fear and anxiety (e.g. taking the dog out after dark) were tasks that I was suddenly tackling. As a kid, my imaginary friend was the horse Goliath from the movie Ladyhawke. He would run beside the car whenever I went anywhere or stand beside me at school, sleep beside my bed at night. I, of course, outgrew the imaginary friend phase long before I entered adulthood, so I surprised myself when, last year, I found myself imagining that Kitty, my equine partner at BDF, was with me when I was in triggering situations. In the dark, he was there, ready to protect me from all of the imagined dangers that my mind could conjure. In time, I didn’t need to visualize an imaginary

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Horses and Healing By Lacey Lancaster Tucked away in Oconee County, just off Hog Mountain Road, sits a place you may have never heard of. I myself lived in Athens for many years before it was ever on my radar and yet, in 2021, Butterfly Dreams Therapeutic Riding Farm changed my life. Established in 2005, this nine-acre farm provides therapeutic riding and hippotherapy services to individuals of all ages with a wide variety of disabilities. After seeing it work for a friend’s son, I learned it could help in my own battle with rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia. I had hoped to strengthen my core in order to reduce back/neck pain, but I was thoroughly unprepared for the ways I would be changed. I have loved horses for as long as I can remember, but they were always a distant dream—something exotic that I would never be able to have for my own. A stereotypical thing to love as a young girl and then let go of when you realize you will never have the space to make it happen. At Butterfly Dreams, suddenly that world could be mine, albeit in small increments that I could handle as a chronically ill person. From my first appointment, I was in awe

horse to turn off my mind because of the confidence and trust I was building with the real Kitty, but it was a useful tool in helping me arrive at a place where I now experience demonstrably fewer symptoms than I did before. It is a gift for which I can never repay Kitty or the people at Butterfly Dreams who work hard everyday to change lives through the power of horses, but I will certainly try.

The Impermanence of Pansies By Kathryn Kyker Planted in pots placed on our stoop velvety nods of deep purple and tangerine greet me in the warm breeze of October gleaming in the late afternoon sun

Enjoy Slackpole, our 2 week issue covering events from Dec. 28th – Jan. 10th ➤ continued on next page

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Proof of my worthiness my essential goodness Love my pansies Love me Finding their sweet faces ripped from their delicate stems I want to strangle the creature who shredded my happiness in a frenzy of nefarious nibbling I consider the usual suspects Deer, Squirrel, Mouse, but convict Bunny on grounds of motive and access Certain of her guilt I object to an appetite that eviscerates my fragile image and reveals my pervasive shadow

“One more time.” I am grateful for all of those I do not know either. Some of you reading this have homes full of shared family recipes. Others may be reading this wondering where their next meal is going to come from. Wherever you are, whoever you are with or without, I am grateful you are here.

Flick, flick, flick. I hyper fixate.

Smoke

Sometimes I question why I need to feel so numb. Are my circumstances really so insufferable? It does distract me for a little while.

By Ellie Dover I feel good. I feel like myself. It’s as if everything suffocating in my life has completely dissolved. I sink into my bed. I laugh at my television. It’s nice to be weightless. Another flick of the lighter sparks a flame.

Petals of attachment torn away Everything changes Anything that awakens you to the futility of clinging— a Dharma Door Anyone who opens that door— a Teacher Thank you Buddha Bunny

The Last Christmas By Charles Lamb III The last Christmas I saw him, I didn’t even comprehend what was about to unfold. Who even thinks about a holiday being the last you will ever spend with a loved one? The last Christmas you will be upset that they are drinking before noon; the last time you assure them that Lynyrd Skynyrd does not count as Christmas music; the last time they smoke a turkey and ham together, telling you, “The best way to cook a turkey is by laying it on the bottom rack. That way, the grease from the ham can drip down to the turkey and keep it from drying out.” Me nodding, half listening and half wishing that he would dry out. Some holiday that was. Nothing superior or inferior about it. Just a plain middle-of-the-road, uneventful family gathering. Looking back, I guess I kind of wish it had been some elaborate over-the-top celebration. The kind you plan for months. The type where friends and family travel from all over the country. You know, matching pajamas and staying up till 2 a.m. the night before recounting stories and memories of the past. Speaking of the past, if I had known that this would have been my last time sitting around a fire with him, would I have put in any effort? Would I have attempted to connect, figure out why he had been so distant or talked about what he had been struggling with? Who’s to say? The thought didn’t even pass my mind that maybe there would never be another Christmas. After his passing, it was never the same. Each year blended into the next. The holidays lost their color, their vibrant joy and their ability to do anything but remind me of him. What I would give to go back to one more Christmas yelling at him to stand up, to pull it together. It’s an odd request for sure, but one that brings me comfort. I’m unsure if knowing it would have been my last Christmas with him would have changed anything. However, realizing that this could be my final time to make a goofy family Christmas card or gift a pair of socks with superimposed images of my animals on them changed everything. I now get to be grateful for every moment with those who matter. I get to share love and joy with them. Through cooking, playing music and pulling the Christmas tree out of the garage thinking to myself,

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The sweet release of all my burdens. My chest loosens, my smiles are wider, my laugh is louder. Everything is better. I am better.

For a moment, I forget the world. My heart slows down and the heaviness subdues. I can breathe again. My necessary evil, oh how I love you so. Who would I be without you? Disposable, miserable, angry? I quake with fear at the thought of her.

JEAN-MARC GARGANTIEL

I was once someone without it. I miss her. Naive, hopeful, happy. Now, it takes my nightly ritual to find her. I can’t remember the catalyst of my burnout. Perhaps it wasn’t just one thing. Perhaps it was everything. I crave it every night. To disassociate from reality and live in a fog of nothingness. I mourn my lust for life. The years have taken that away from me. Life has taken that away from me. I gave everything I had. And when the light dims, only ash remains.

My Athens By René Shoemaker People often ask how I ended up living in France. “Perseverance furthers,” I answer, citing the I Ching quote that I live by. But that answer often leaves them unsatisfied. It’s not about having lots of money. It’s not about being fluent in French. I suppose it is about pushing the edges and the envelopes in life. It is about a willingness to put yourself in situations you have no idea how to get out of… where there is no safety net. It is about being willing to go on an adventure, and to live with an adventurous spirit. So exactly how does it feel okay to sit in my little stone house in France (where the internet service is really good, and inexpensive, I might add) and type those two hashtags on social media without a feeling of misrepresentation? #thisismyhomenow #my_athens Athens IS my hometown. It is not where I was born (which was New York, NY), but it is where I grew, where I matured, where I was educated, where I worked, where I loved. For 40 years. It’s where I put down (deep) roots.

René Shoemaker

Athens has cradled me and helped me grow, and continues to do so. Aubusson, in central France, is my newly adopted town. Like any good adoptive family, it has welcomed me… even though there has been some tough love along the way. France has welcomed me to its community, its air, its way of life, its centeredness.

And now I do, And I am happy. I have had French solo exhibitions in Paris (2014–2015), Felletin (2017), Felletin (2018), Paris (2020) and most recently Aubusson (currently on view through Dec. 31, 2022). Perseverance furthers.

I thought I lived in a rural area in Georgia. “Rural” is different in France, at least where I live. There are a lot of cows. And open fields. And beautiful views when you get to the top of a hill. But the land use patterns are different. There are villages scattered around the countryside. Some of the villages have cafés and boulangeries (bakeries), and sometimes a butcher, too. It’s nice. The pace of life is different. More relaxed. Less stressed. 35-hour work weeks and Sundays off for everyone. I had a dream to live in France. to exhibit my art in France.

Athens, I love you. You have supported me in my times of greatest need. You have helped me grow; you have helped me mature; you have given me the strength to carry on in this life. “The Doors of Athens” exhibition, currently on view at Athens Art and Frame, was my love song to Athens. The current exhibition in France, “Places & Names,” is how I share, in Aubusson, my two worlds. The work conveys a sense of continuity through the symbolism of architecture and rivers. Our lives flow, the currents merge, then break off again for new investigation and discoveries. ➤ continued on next page

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ABBY KACEN

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The visitors to the Galerie des Marches in Aubusson have fun trying to identify the images as Georgia or France. The architecture, is it French? Or is it Gothic or Southern Second-Empire-style? I landed in Aubusson, which is known for its tapestry production. I am surrounded by weavers and dyers and people who value textiles. Living in a tapestry town, how cool is that? In the Mar. 25, 2015 issue, I shared my first Parisian exhibition with Flagpole readers. I’ve discovered art and travel do not satiate; they only create more desire for more discoveries. Athens, GA is my hometown. It is my center. It is where I draw my strength from. Athens, I love you.

Ellie’s Pick: Top Albums of 2022 By Ellie Dover I close my eyes, and I’m taken back to the days of my childhood when I’m riding in my father’s car. An avid music lover and accomplished guitar player, my father would spend our lengthy long-distance car rides to lacrosse tournaments with the windows down, exposing me to all kinds of fantastic music. Perhaps I should’ve been running plays in my head or researching my opponents, but I was too busy listening to the genius of Led Zeppelin and Jimi Hendrix. From an early age, I became dedicated to discovering impactful music and found a way to connect with it that continues today. Come December, for the past few years, I have made personal lists of my favorite albums. I have a master list of my favorites of all time, but I enjoy reflecting on the year as it comes to a close and noting the ones I gravitated toward the most. I believe the albums listed are strong in instrumentals, lyricism, storyline, creativity and overall have zero skips. I have a niche for hyper pop, indie, alternative and R&B/soul. They are ranked in no particular order. Caprisongs FKA Twigs Genre: Electronic I know I said these weren’t ranked in any particular order, but as of right now, this is my top album of the year. I didn’t ever think FKA Twigs could top her notorious heartbreak masterpiece, Cellophane, but then she put out Caprisongs. From the beginning her first track, “Ride the Dragon,” takes us to a place of pure longing and lust. The album follows the storyline of yearning for a lover who keeps Twigs at bay, which only prolongs her heartache. To quote from one of my favorite tracks, “Meta Angel,” “I’ve got a love for desire/I’ve got a pain for desire.” Her melodic electronic creation was the soundtrack to my summer. With features from Daniel Caesar, Shygirl and The Weeknd, I believe this album to be a turning point for Twigs’ artistic journey. It’s a project I know I can listen to over and over again and never get bored. CRASH Charli XCX Genre: Pop As a self-proclaimed Charli XCX fanatic, I anticipated this album months before its release. After her previous project, How I’m Feeling Now, broke experimental hyper pop barriers, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Crash, her fifth studio album, circles back to her pop roots while reinforcing an edgier style she adapted in her self-titled album Charli in 2019. Pitchfork called Crash her best full-length project since Pop 2, giving it a score of 8/10. This new era, in my opinion, is extremely pivotal for the British singer’s career. Her recent spike in popularity has enabled her to estab-

lish herself as a more mainstream artist. Her lead singles have found themselves as the soundtracks for viral TikTok trends, and her image has become a statement for many associated with the LGBTQIA+ community. Her branding has evolved into an edgier, sexier and campier depiction of a good-pop-girl-gone-bad. I think Crash was her project to truly be her—let loose and encapsulate the entirety of who she wants to be. After freeing herself from a suppressing recording contract and turning 30, Charli is clearly wellequipped to dominate the female pop universe. Cheat Codes Danger Mouse and Black Thought Genre: Hip Hop/Rap A friend showed me this album, and I listened to it every day in the following weeks. Something incredibly interesting about Danger Mouse is that he actually used to work at Wuxtry Records and got his start here in Athens, one of my favorite spots for discovering new music. Danger Mouse is primarily a musician and record producer who has produced several notable albums, such as Gorillaz’s essential album Demon Days from 2005 and four projects with the rock/ alternative band The Black Keys. Black Thought, originally a member of the Roots, is known to be one of the most prolific rappers of his time. Together, these two created a project that excels in technique, production and verse structure. For any rap fan, critics everywhere claim it to be a must-listen not only for the year, but all of rap history. With captivating beats and features from a variety of iconic rappers, including Joey Bada$$, A$AP Rocky and the late MF DOOM, this project is one for the ages. Natural Brown Prom Queen Sudan Archives Genre: R&B/Soul This one I didn’t get around to listening to until recently, but it immediately made the top of my list. Sudan Archives’ first album, Athena, is an intricate and introspective experience, and likewise, this musical anthology is nothing short of perfection. Her sophomore project is a blend of R&B, blues, rock and even spoken word, all the while establishing technical innovation and creating emotion through storytelling. It is a wholly individual and original project that absolutely blew my mind from beginning to end. For any soul fans or lovers of feminist art, this is definitely one for your library. RENAISSANCE Beyoncé Genre: Pop/House music

F L A GP OL E .C OM · DE C E MB E R 28, 2022 & J A NU A R Y 4, 2023

Do I really have to explain this? No, but I will. It just wouldn’t feel right making this list and not including this album. What I love most about Beyoncé is how she always does the unexpected— and she does it well. Each album she releases is more unpredictable than the last, whether that be via thematic structure or maximalist instrumentals. Renaissance was the artist’s first dip into house music, which surprised fans and critics everywhere. As a single, “Break My Soul” took listeners by surprise; it was a new sound for the Houston powerhouse that was completely different from songs on her previous album, Lemonade. In Renaissance, she incorporates dancehall, Miami flair and even hyper pop genres. Charli XCX’s right-hand man and producer, AG Cook, is the mastery behind the beats in “All Up In Your Mind.” While her music is ever-changing, she still manages to maintain her feminist and political perspective throughout her messaging. Beyoncé knows how to make an anthem that people everywhere can relate to. Most importantly, she reflects on her ability to return to her full esteem, and Renaissance is truly her phoenix from the ashes. As she says in “Cozy,” “She’s a god/she’s a hero/ she survived/all she been through/confident/damn, she lethal.” Once Twice Melody Beach House Genre: Alternative I don’t know what it is, but every album Beach House has come out with, I have absolutely worshiped. This band has been one of my favorites since I was 16 years old. Its sound is so rich, dreamy and original that when I listen to its music, I feel as if I’m melting away into the calmest oasis I could ever imagine. Majestic, mesmerizing and surreal, this project only enhances Beach House’s quintessential dream world, extending beyond previously unexplored realms they had yet to cross. This band is a constant favorite of mine for a reason—and it’s no surprise to me that its album and lead single, “Once Twice Melody,” topped indie charts this year. If you’re looking for an ethereal, immersive music experience, I’d definitely recommend giving this album a listen. A Touch of the Beat Gets You Up On Your Feet Gets You Out and Then Into the Sun (Deluxe Edition) Aly & AJ Genre: Alternative A mouthful, I know. But trust me, this album is worth it. Who knew these two could use their success from the iconic “Potential Breakup Song” to transform into a powerful pop-rock duo? This album is excellent, and I wasn’t

expecting it from the former Disney Channel stars. Aly and AJ established themselves as a musical duo after releasing their album, Ten Years, in 2018 (after not making music for ten years!). This sophomore album, since their reboot, is only the beginning of what I believe to be a fantastic career for them. They perfectly capture a dreamy California sound while touching on heartache, isolation and chaos. Tracks like “Paradise” and “Pretty Places” transport me to Venice Beach. What I love most about this album is how you can observe the vast amount of influences they considered: pop, soft rock and even disco for a modern twist. My personal favorite track, “Symptom of Your Touch,” is incredibly relatable lyrically. To say I’ve belted the line “if it feels so good/why does it hurt so much?” a thousand times would likely be an understatement. These two are open and vulnerable and leave nothing left unsaid. While the album initially came out in 2021, the deluxe edition with four additional tracks was released earlier this year. Considering I found it in May, I’m adding it to my list, and no one can say anything about it. This is only the tip of the iceberg of albums I enjoyed this year, but I will say the majority of them are from female artists. This year was specifically interesting because I felt that while many artists came out with new music this year, a lot of big-name personas dropped underwhelming projects. Online, it seemed music critics felt the same; many were disappointed by overhyped potentials, such as Jack Harlow’s Come Home the Kids Miss You, a massive letdown for fans everywhere (especially me). Despite the prominence of lackluster projects, this year was important for many female artists to make statements in the industry, and so many of them found ways to reclaim power and address the need for justice in their music. As an avid music lover, I’d say it was a relatively successful year.

Christmas Story By Nikki Czechowski This is a story about the best Christmas I ever had. I was about five or six. My mom was divorced and working trying to support my brother and I. We were just barely getting by, living on a farm out in the middle of nowhere. Christmas was coming, and I knew one thing for sure: Santa wasn’t coming to our house. On Christmas Eve, my brother and I went out into a snow blizzard to find a tree. The snow drifts came up to my chest. The only thing we could find was an old dead branch. So we dragged it into the house and slapped it into the stand. It may have been slightly askew. We decided it was cool because Snoopy had a tree just like it. We didn’t have any ornaments, so we made some mini Christmas presents out of this orange, brown and yellow tissue paper we had from Halloween. We made a star out of some tinfoil I stole off the TV antenna. Mom was pissed when she tried to watch “Wheel of Fortune” later. I also fashioned a few nooses and hung some stuffed animals from it. Nothing says Christmas like a dead branch with suicidal stuffed animals hanging from it with a bitchin’ Halloween flair and what appeared to be leftovers as a star. We were really proud of that tree. It was one of a kind to say the least. Martha comes to us directly for all her crafting ideas. My mom sent us to bed. I dragged ass going up those stairs to my room. I flopped down in my bed and looked out my window hoping to see Santa. I barely slept that night. As each hour passed, my sadness grew. I remember watching the sun come up over the horizon and crying when I saw daylight. Santa had skipped our house just like I knew he would. My brother woke up and jumped out of bed and ran towards the stairs. I slowly followed him. As I got halfway down the stairs, I looked up, and I couldn’t believe my eyes. There stood the most perfect tree that I had ever seen. There was an avalanche of presents descending from it. My favorite present was a perfect little pink baby doll carriage. Not that I had any dolls… Well, none with heads on them anyways. I was super pumped because now I had a way to transport all the mice I had collected from the field. Don’t tell my mom, but there may have been a few escapees over

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ANNIE LYNN OSAER

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the years. The kitchen counters were overflowing with food. A church had picked several needy families to sponsor in the area, and we were one of them. I felt like I was in a movie or an after-school special. It was perfection. I believed in Santa probably longer than any kid should have because of that day. That may have been the best gift of all… hope. Dreams really can come true!

My Forever Friends By Annie Lynn Osaer My Forever Friends got me through the unusually tough times during COVID which coincided with a new, serious rare illness. The last two years for me as the world was still shut down, days became a bit scary, sad and lonely. I want to be transparent and vulnerable; don’t judge me. Depression became real and very unkind! It began to rear its ugly head daily. Let me tell you, depression does not understand—go for a walk, read a book, paint a picture. It takes over until it hurts, aches to depths that are unimaginable. Because of the continued fear and shut downs, there were no, and I repeat NO, mental health persons available to help me. So as I struggled in silence one morning, I started to reminisce by going through an old cedar chest. I was so excited to find my “Barbie Friends” from the ’50s. They suddenly became alive in this new world I was experiencing and later became known as the “Shelter in Place Friends.” They suddenly brightened not just my days but so many others via social media. They now sit in my studio and make me smile. I hope you enjoy some of their shenanigans and they make YOU smile. Remember, the future is uncertain. So I write this to you, if you are struggling in silence, I understand. And for the one person reading this, perhaps your smile will make someone’s day so that they feel noticed and not alone. And maybe, you my friend will think more about others, be kind and check in for we do not know their story. Help someone to feel good even if it’s just for today.

The Mideast War By Maxwell Champion The Mideast war in 1973 was a major inconvenience for me personally and the American suburbs in general. The

PAIN & WONDER

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countries that produced oil had the audacity to stop selling it, stalling our gas guzzling automobiles in the driveway. Gasoline became scarce and was rationed. Worst of all, it happened in the winter. Drivers were allowed to buy gas on odd/even days based on license plate numbers. The amounts allocated were minuscule, usually only a couple of bucks per car. Gas stations would open with a line of cars waiting for their pesky allotment of petrol, and the station would then close when it ran dry. I was expected to take the car and wait in line every morning that we qualified for our ration of gasoline. The gas

stations opened at 6 a.m. Mother would roust me before dawn and lead me out the door, handing me a tin plate with a hot breakfast to eat. It was dark, cold and sometimes snowing as I sat in the gas line with only a tin of scrambled eggs and hash warming my lap. On occasion, I would smoke a joint just to pass the time, which was not the most effective way to wake up and prepare for high school. Of course, there was only AM radio and the news that was unfailingly bad. The gas station finally opened at six and the long line of cars would creep forward, each pausing briefly for its two dollar ration. f

Quitting is hard... hard...but but it’s

NOT impossible!

VOTED AN ATHENS’ FAVORITE TATTOO STUDIO 2011–2020

285 W. Washington St.

(706) 208-9588 www.painandwonder.com

GEORGIA TOBACCO QUIT LINE

Athens, GA 30601

English: 877.270.STOP (7867) or Español: 877.2NO.FUME (266.3863)

F L A GP OL E .C OM · DE C E MB E R 28, 2022 & J A NU A R Y 4, 2023

DE C E MB E R 28, 2022 & J A NU A R Y 4, 2023· F L A GP OL E .C OM