INsite Atlanta November 2018 Issue

NOVEMBER 2018

C

7 YEARS! 2 G N I T ELEBRA

INSITEATLANTA.COM

VOL. 27, NO. 4 FREE

GSU Basketball Matthew Morrison Shawn Mullins

Winners Dining, Nightlife, Retail & Lifestyle

2018

samash.com Monday-Friday 10 AM - 9 PM | Saturday: 10 AM - 8 PM | Sunday: 12 PM - 6 PM PG 2 • November 2018 • insiteatlanta.com

CONTENTS • NOVEMBER 2018 • VOLUME 27, NO. 4

EARS! ING 27 Y T A R B E CEL

ur t a c i l l e e d H FunA• F FUN-FILLED D olHOLIDAY iday ExEXPERIENCE inDECATUR periences IN

Atlanta’s

Entertainment Monthly

INTERVIEWS

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14 Levar Burton

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16 Shawn Mullins 18 GSU Basketball

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Best of Atlanta!

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atur

@sqft_dec

FUN-FILLED HOLIDAY EXPERIENCE VISITORS CENTER NOV. 3, 10,30030 & 17 | DEC. 1, 8, & 15 113 Clairemont Ave., Decatur | visitdecaturga.com

COLUMNS 04 Around Town

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onal Enjoy seas nities, shopportu eals, , special d ts n e m h s refre at ded hours n te x e d n a ng shops. participati ls at savory dea Sweet and too! staurants, Decatur re

18 Jonathan Butler

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! e n i d n e h t . . ! . t s r i f p sho

15 Matthew Morrison

FEATURES

december

NOV. 1, 8, 15 & 29 | DEC. 6, 13 & 20

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05 On Tap 06 Atlanta on a Dime 07 Under The Lights 07 New Releases 08 Movie Reviews 09 Station Control

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insiteatlanta.com STAFF LISTING Publisher Stephen Miller steve@insiteatlanta.com Art Director / Web Design Nick Tipton nick@insiteatlanta.com Managing Editor Lee Valentine Smith lee@insiteatlanta.com Local Events Editor Marci Miller marci@insiteatlanta.com Movie Editor Steve Warren s.warren@insiteatlanta.com

Music Editor John Moore john@insiteatlanta.com Contributing Writers / Interns: Alex. S. Morrison, Dave Cohen, Benjamin Carr, Demarco Williams MAILING ADDRESS P.O. Box 76483 Atlanta, GA 30358 WEBSITE • insiteatlanta.com ADVERTISING INFORMATION (404) 308-5119 • ads@insiteatlanta.com Editorial content of INsite is the opinion of each writer and is not necessarily the opinion of INsite, its staff, or its advertisers. INsite does not knowingly accept false or misleading advertising or editorial content, nor do the publisher or editors of INsite assume responsibility GSU Basketball should such advertising or editorial appear. No Matthew Morrison Shawn Mullins content, i.e., articles, graphics, designs and information (any and all) in this publication may be reproduced in any manner without written permission from publisher.

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Please check out our Best of Atlanta feature on page 10.

Winners Dining, Nightlife, Retail & Lifestyle

insiteatlanta.com • November 2018 • PG 3

THROUGH NOVEMBER 18 MJCCA Book Festival Center at Zaban Park

e Book Festival of the MJCCA features works from the most sought-after and talked-about authors, celebrities, and influencers. More than 10,000 visitors are expected to attend engaging speaker programs, author meet-and-greets, book signings, panel discussions, and more.

Guests include actor Tom Hanks, former senator Joe Lieberman and presidential historian John Meacham. Visit Atlantajcc.org.

NOVEMBER 2 - JANUARY 10 Flight of the Butterflies Fernbank Museum

Flight of the Butterflies, the breathtaking giant screen adventure is back in 3D. It follows the epic journey of the iconic monarch butterfly in one of the most incredible migrations on Earth. e film immerses audiences in the triumphant journey of perseverance that spans thousands of miles and several generations. Tickets at FernbankMuseum.org.

NOVEMBER 9 - 11 AND 16 - 18 Sesame Street Live!

Infinite Energy Arena Cobb Energy Centre

Everyone is invited to take part in the sunniest and funniest street celebration in Sesame Street Live! See your

Events and Performances taking place this Month

favorite Sesame Street pals Elmo, Abby Cadabby, Big Bird and more in a brand-new sensory adventure live on stage. InfiniteEnergycenter.com & CobbEnergyCentre.com.

NOVEMBER 10 - JANUARY 6 Stone Mountain Christmas Stone Mountain Park

Have a Holly Jolly Christmas at Stone Mountain Park, where the true magic of the season is in the air.

Enjoy the glow of more than two million lights, festive music and visits from some your favorite holiday characters. Start a new tradition and create memories that will last a lifetime for you and your kids.

StoneMountainpark.com.

NOVEMBER 13 - DECEMBER 30

Schwartz Center for Performing Arts

NOVEMBER 17 - JANUARY 6

Byers Theatre at City Springs

Garden Lights, Holiday Nights Atlanta Botanical Garden

Center for Puppetry Arts

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17 Romeo and Juliet

Walk among spectacular light displays throughout the Garden, including the hightech Nature's Wonders, illuminating the world's natural phenomena through countless strands of synchronized dancing lights strung high over Storza Woods. Explore the Walk of Flames and Tunnel of Light along with favorites such as the Orchestral Orbs, Glittering Galaxy, Radiant Rainforest, and Model Trains that continue to make the exhibition a must-see holiday tradition. Tickets at AtlantaBotanicalGarden.org.

BEST of

ATL

Winner I Ns i t e ★ 201 7

Life University, Marietta

NOVEMBER 23 - DECEMBER 2 The Nutcracker

Roswell Dance Theatre presents its 30th anniversary production of The Nutcracker, directed

by Nancy Tolbert Yilmaz and Mary Lynn Taylor at the Byers Theatre. With 350 performers, this Nutcracker is the largest and oldest in North Fulton. Gorgeous costumes, magical scenery, beloved music and exquisite dancing will delight all who enter.

The cast includes world-class professionals who have danced nationally and internationally and aspiring young professionals from the Roswell Dance Theatre, the performing company of the Tolbert Yilmaz School of Dance. The 12-performance run opens Friday, November 23 and continues through Sunday, December 2. Tickets just $10 - $35 at CitySprings.com. e Magazine sit

Best of Atlanta

’s

Thank You, Atlanta!

Lights of Life

Lights of LIFE is an annual holiday tradition that was started by Life University and dates back to 1989. The 65 foot tall rendition of Santa and his sleigh is the tallest display in the Southeast. It is a visual treat that the whole family will enjoy. Concessions are available seven days a week. Additional activities will be available during the weekends for a small fee including petting zoo, train rides, pony rides and photos with Santa. Tickets available at Life.edu

Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer Rudolph soars back into town for this faithful adaptation of the wonderful holiday film that speaks to the misfit in all of us. Based on the beloved 1964 stop-motion animated special, Rudolph and his friends Hermey the Elf, Yukon Cornelius, the Abominable Snow Monster and all the other merry misfits join Santa for an unforgettable holiday adventure. Tickets at Puppet.org.

NOVEMBER 22 - DECEMBER 31

See acclaimed international pianist and awardwinning recording artist Lise de la Salle perform at the Schwartz Center for Performing Arts at Emory University. Ms. de la Salle is one of today's most exciting young artists and a musician of uncommon sensibility and maturity. Her playing inspired a Washington Post critic to write, “For much of the concert, the audience had to remember to breathe... the exhilaration didn’t let up for a second until her hands came off the keyboard.” Tickets at arts.emory.edu/boxoffice.

IN

Around Town

2014

WINNER!

Best of Atlanta – Six Straight Years!

99.

$

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Freshwater Cultured Pearl Set – Necklace, Bracelet and Earnings

Exclusively at QSET - 10391

A L E X A N D E R S O FAT L A N TA . C O M

404-634-3197 We’ve Moved! 193 East Pike St. (Downtown Lawrencevillle, Theatre District) PG 4 • November 2018 • insiteatlanta.com

ER! W INN

On Tap this Month MAJOR EVENTS COMING TO ATLANTA November 15: The Fox Theatre

ROY ORBISON HOLOGRAM TOUR Rock and Roll legend Roy Orbison is brought to life with In Dreams: Roy Orbison In Concert - e Hologram. See him performing his greatest hits, accompanied on stage by a live orchestra. In addition to his classic tracks witness never-before-heard arrangements of his originals. Orbison’s catalogue includes such chart-toppers as “Oh, Pretty Woman,” “You Got It,” “Only the Lonely” and “Crying.” Visit Foxtheatre.org.

SPEND TIME WITH US THIS HOLIDAY SEASON AT CITY SPRINGS

The Nutcracker November 23–December 2

Magical Light Display December 1–31

November 18: Lenox Square Mall

MACY’S TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY Ring in the Holiday Season with Macy's 71st Annual Great Tree Lighting ceremony with hosts Jovita Moore and Zach Klein along with e Macy's All-Star Choir as they light the great tree in style. Last year’s performances by: CeeLo Green and Casting Crowns. e lighting of Atlanta’s most beloved Christmas tree will take place at Macy’s at Lenox Square Mall on Sunday 6:30 pm, November 18. Visit Simon.com.

November 22: Georgia State Stadium

HALF MARATHON & 5K

Kick off your anksgiving with the anksgiving Day Half Marathon & 5K. It's an Atlanta tradition. Runners and walkers will earn their turkey as they finish their race under Atlanta's iconic Olympic rings. Atlanta Track Club welcomes runners and walkers to participate in the Half Marathon, 5K, One Mile & 50m Dash. Stick around for a post-race celebration outside Georgia State Stadium. Visit AtlantaTrackclub.org.

Elf The Musical December 7–16

Boston Brass: Christmas Bells Are Swingin’ December 22

Jewel’s Handmade Holiday Tour December 19

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra New Years Eve Celebration December 31

TICKETS ON SALE AT CITYSPRINGS.COM

November 23: The Fox Theatre

STRAIGHT NO CHASER

e world famous a cappella group Straight No Chaser “One Shot Tour” coincides with the 10th Anniversary of signing with Atlantic Records and the release of their debut album, “Holiday Spirits.” e band performs new music along with a number of contemporary pop hits and rock classics including Eurythmics’ “Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of is)” as well their show-stopping “Beyoncé Medley.” Visit Foxtheatre.org.

November 24 & 25: The Fox Theatre

CIRQUE DREAMS

Cirque Dreams Holidaze returns with a grand and electrifying stage spectacular for two unforgettable performances. Set in a wonderland of season’s dreamings and holiday pageantry, audiences will marvel at never before seen performances, over 300 costumes, 20 of the world’s best acts, the finest singers, original music and seasonal favorites. Celebrate the most wonderful time of the year. Tickets at Foxeatre.org.

November 30: Cobb Energy Centre

DAVE KOZ

In a career that spans more than three decades, legendary and Grammy nominated saxophonist Dave Koz returns this Holiday Season for his latest Christmas Tour. Special Guests joining Dave this year will be: Mindi Abair, pop/blues saxophonist/singer; South African guitarist/singer, Jonathan Butler; and Japanese keyboard sensation Keiko Matsui. Tickets at CobbEnergyCentre.com. insiteatlanta.com • November 2018 • PG 5

including popular songs as well as patriotic anthems. Food and beverages will be available for sale. Complimentary parking in the City Springs parking deck.

EVENTS HAPPENING FOR SMALL CHANGE IN ATLANTA

Know of a low cost event happening? Event@AtlantaOnADime.com

By Marci Miller

November 1,8,15,19

DECATUR TERRIFIC THURSDAYS Downtown Decatur visitdecaturgacom

Each ursday this month except on anksgiving, shops all around Decatur will be offering special holiday deals. Get in the holiday spirit with their tree lighting, Santa sightings, refreshments, bonfire on the square and extended hours.

Saturday November 3

TASTE OF KENNESAW

Downtown Kennesaw Free admission; Kennesawbusiness.org Taste of Kennesaw offers samplings from over 30 local restaurants for just $1 - $4.

Partake in their beer garden, Kids Zone, sample delicious food, and sit back and listen to great music. e Main Street stage offers local entertainment all day and culminates with a free concert at 6:00 p.m.

Saturday, November 3

CHOMP AND STOMP

Free to Attend Cabbagetown chompandstomp.com

grass Festival benefits Cabbagetown parks, green spaces, and community center. Featuring a chili cook-off including individual and restaurant chilis, 5K run, artist market, live bluegrass music, beer and more. e festival opens at 11:00 a.m. while the chomp’n begins at 12:30 p.m. e event is free to attend with $10 tasting spoon.

Saturday & Sunday Nov. 3 & 4

Saturday, November 10

VETERANS DAY PARADE Free Centennial Olympic Park Center georgiaveteransday.org

Help the Georgia Veterans Day Association honor our veterans and celebrate the 77th Anniversary of the USO. e Parade will start at 11:11 a.m., in Downtown Atlanta on Peachtree Street south of Ralph McGill/Ivan Allen Blvd and proceed south towards Centennial Olympic Park. e Grand Marshal for the 2018 Parade is Col Danny McKnight, U.S. Army Retired.

CHASTAIN PARK ART FESTIVAL November 15 - December 23 Free to Attend Chastain Park FESTIVAL OF TREES chastainparkartsfestival.com

Over 200 booths from fine painters, photographers, sculptors, leather and metal craft persons, glass blowers, jewelers and more. e festival also offers visitors the opportunity to view artist demonstrations, enjoy live entertainment and participate in hands-on arts activities. Children’s area, local food and beverage concessions including the “gourmet” food trucks.

Free event; Aurora Theatre auroratheatre.com

Aurora will once again spread the goodwill

of the season by hosting e Festival of Trees in support of both the United States Marine Corps Toys for Tots drive and local food banks. From delicate to dramatic, the Festival of Trees will deck the halls of Aurora eatre with nearly 30 trees decorated by local businesses.

Saturday, November 17

ATLANTIC STATION TREE LIGHTING Free Atlantic Station atlanticstation.com

Kick off the holiday season at Atlantic Station’s annual tree lighting celebration. is family-friendly event will feature live musical entertainment, a kids’ activity area, live reindeer, a holiday parade and more. e night will culminate with Santa’s arrival, a Holiday Jubilee performance, the tree lighting with more than 250,000 lights, a “snow show” and fireworks. e lighting of the Christmas Tree in Central Park takes place at approximately 8:00 p.m. followed by fireworks.

CHOMP and Stomp chompandstomp.com

Saturday, November 3 Cabbagetown • FREE

Friday, November 9

VETERAN’S DAY CONCERT Free City Green at Sandy Springs citysprings.com

Enjoy music under the stars featuring Yankton, a Nashville favorite with a set list REceive Updated Events Weekly. Sign Up by Emailing Subscriptions@atlantaonadime.com Enter on the subject line: Sign me up Insite!

Chomp & Stomp Chili Cook-off and Blue-

PG 6 • November 2018 • insiteatlanta.com

Under The Lights COMING TO ATLANTA STAGE

Actor’s Express (404) 607-7469 ActorsExpress.com Beneath the other worldly glow of the Northern Lights, tourists and locals mingle in the shadows of Iceland’s capital city. Reykjavík is told through eight interconnected vignettes. We eavesdrop on lovers, siblings, hotel employees, sex workers – and even some birds with really strong opinions about honesty. In this tour-de-force collision of sex and danger, playwright Steve Yockey propels us on a thrilling journey through a world in which the supernatural is closer than we think.

NOT ABOUT HEROES

November 2 - 18 Aris Theatre at 7 Stages Theatre (404) 692-0053 ArisTheatre.org August 1917. Wilfred Owen, a 24-year-old shell-shocked British soldier, meets the famous poet, soldier, and war protestor Siegfried Sassoon at Craiglockhart War Hospital in Scotland. Their mutual love of poetry and disillusionment with the war draws them together, sparking a powerful friendship.

Sassoon nurtures Owen’s budding talent,

and between them, they convey the horror of their experiences in the death-filled trenches of France and Germany in a way that forever alters the public’s opinion of World War I. Their story is a testament to the enduring power of love and poetry.

WAFFLE PALACE CHRISTMAS

November 16 - December 30 Horizon Theatre (404) 584-7450 HorizonTheatre.com Horizon Theatre Company is ringing in the holiday season with a new tradition!

Waffle Palace Christmas, is a sequel to the smash-hit show inspired by real events at Waffle House restaurants. “After staging several sell-out runs of Waffle Palace in past years, we’re excited to bring back the beloved allnight diner and its staff in a new edition perfect for the holiday season,” said CoArtistic/Producing Director Lisa Adler.

Waffle Palace Christmas picks up with the vintage Waffle Palace now thriving in the middle of a new modern city multi-use complex. The holiday season is in full swing and the staff is adjusting to new roles, an inexperienced employee and quirky regulars. With Christmas cheer aplenty among the diverse staff and diners, Krampus, a legendary, shape-shifting holiday villain, appears over the restaurant to sabotage the spirit and challenge all in his path.

HOME THEATER

NEW RELEASES THE LATEST DVD, BLU RAY & VOD RELEASES

By John Moore

SAVED BY THE BELL: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION (Shout Factory!)

Surprisingly, the TV series Saved

By The Bell was only around for four years, but the cringeworthy at times show remains a pop culture touchstone to this day for these in the lower reaches of Generation X. Shout Factory! has compiled every single episode of the series onto a massive 16-disc boxset, housed in a very cool locker box. Impressively enough, the 118 episodes here are from all three series: Good Morning, Miss Bliss (the Disney Channel precursor), Saved By The Bell (the NBC series) and Saved By The Bell: The College Years, plus both movies and a slew of special features. Nostalgia buffs rejoice!

ANT-MAN AND THE WASP (Marvel)

When Marvel studios announced they were turning to Ant-Man to continue their cineplex dominance there was a feeling among many that they were scraping the bottom of the barrel. But, surprisingly, Paul Rudd’s charm, some cool effects and a strong story turned the movie into a success. The inevitable sequel, Ant-Man and the Wasp, while lacking a lot of the energy of the first

movie is still enough to satiate comic movie fans. Rudd’s character is joined

by Evangeline Lilly, playing his reluctant partner, The Wasp.

This one definitely feels like a sequel; a little rushed with a weaker story line and too many attempts trying to tie into the other Marvel movies. Regardless, thanks in large part to Rudd, it’s still a solid movie

THE AFFAIR – THE FOURTH SEASON

(Paramount) Four seasons in, The Affair is finally starting to show its age. The initial premise, a struggling author and a waitress trying to hide their affair in the midst of a murder investigation, has long since evaporated. The concept, telling the same story through the perspective of the two main characters was inventive, but the novelty has worn off. In the fourth season, Noah the author has moved to California to be closer to his children and Allison, the waitress, is now a grief counselor. Season four has its moments, but at this point its more like a run-of-the-mill network TV soap than the inventive, creative cable show that it started out as.

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MOVIES

Movie Reviews HALLOWEEN (R)

 Some horror franchises have had more “final chapters” than Cher’s had farewell tours. It’s comforting to see familiar characters, situations and formulas; but who goes to a horror movie to be comforted? The boxoffice for this new sequel to John Carpenter’s 1978 hit answers that: Everybody! While I prefer something original and different, I admire the skill that went into making this one, which should appeal to newbies as well as the generations that have grown up on Halloween movies. The screenplay includes enough backstory that you don’t need a Masters in slasher films to follow the simple plot. After 40 years of confinement, serial killer Michael Myers escapes while being transferred to a new mental facility. Of course he goes after Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis), who has devoted her life to preparing for this moment. That includes frequent target practice and building a fallout shelter in the basement of her remote home. It also includes neglecting her daughter (Judy Greer) and granddaughter (Andi Matichak). A number of other new, mostly young characters are introduced too, but enjoy them while they last – you know the drill. It goes on a bit too long but it would be hard to find something to cut (no pun intended), on the way to the expected mano a womano climax.

And of course Michael can’t possibly survive...but of course there will be another sequel and he’ll be there, as sure as Freddy and Jason are warming up in the bullpen. They went classy, bringing in accomplished and versatile director David Gordon Green, who also co-wrote the screenplay, resulting in what’s arguably the most technically proficient slasher movie ever. It’s the same old same old with the same – er, formerly young lady in the lead; but damn, it’s good!

–Steve Warren

BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY (PG-13)

 Bohemian Rhapsody is a foot-stomping celebration of Queen, their music and their extraordinary lead singer Freddie Mercury.

Freddie defied stereotypes and shattered convention to become one of the most beloved entertainers on the planet. The film follows Queen as they rise to stardom, Freddie’s move to a failed solo artist and finally Queen’s largest performance when the band get back together at Live Aid. Much of the film is focused on his life and doesn’t delve into the rest of the band. Rami Malek does an incredible job transforming into character it’s as though you are watching Freddie himself. Lucy Boynton Co-stars as Mary, the love of Freddie’s life. She delivered a very strong performance as did the rest of the cast. Wonderfully directed by Bryan Singer (The Usual Suspects, X-Men & X-Men: Days of Future Past) and Dexter Fletcher

(Wild Bill, Sunshine on Leith & Eddie the Eagle), who replaced Singer due to studio issues midway through. The film doesn’t delve into the alternative lifestyle too heavily which has caused some to say that Freddie’s life was washed over, but the film provides a highly entertaining look into the band.

– Dani Weiss

WILDLIFE (PG-13)

 In 1960 a 14-year-old would have grown up loving Lucy and leaving it to Beaver, totally unprepared for life in the real world. That’s the situation of Joe Brinson (Ed Oxenbould, who’s Australian but you’d never guess). He and his parents, Jerry (Jake Gyllenhaal) and Jeanette (Carey Mulligan) – why are they all J names? – have moved around the Northwestern U.S. a lot and recently settled in Great Falls, Montana. Most of the story is seen through Joe’s eyes, which show a mix of confusion and fear as he worries his family is falling apart but isn’t sure how to read the signals. When Jerry loses his job the others go to work, Jeanette as a swim instructor at the Y and Joe as a photographer’s assistant. It’s wildfire season so Jerry goes off (for at least half the movie) to fight fires for a dollar an hour plus room and board. While he’s gone Jeanette, who isn’t sure what she wants or how to get it, takes up with one of her students, Warren Miller (Bill Camp), an older man with no attraction but his bank account. Then snow puts out the fires and Jerry comes home. Just when you think it’s over, a coda provides an ending that’s wonderfully strange. Wildlife was directed by Paul Dano, who co-wrote the screenplay (from a novel by Richard Ford), with his life partner Zoe Kazan. Dano probably wishes the role of Joe had been available to him when he was a young teen. Oxenbould is fine but lacks the spark that would have made his one note more interesting. It would have been pointless to try to compete with Mulligan, who lets all the stops out all the time. Intimate dramas like this have become so rare on the big screen that, combined with its period setting, Wildlife could have emerged from a time capsule.

–Steve Warren

THE HAPPY PRINCE (R)

1/2 Aside from a few fleeting moments, the only “happy” in The Happy Prince is in the title. It’s the story of the last two or three years in the life of Oscar Wilde (Rupert Everett), following his two years at hard labor for “gross indecency.” You’d think freedom would be a positive change, but the Irish playwright has to beg, borrow or con the money for food and lodging – not to mention sex, which, considering his taste in young men, rarely comes free. More reviled than revered in London now, Wilde exiles himself to Paris under a fake identity. He wants to go back to his wife Constance

HALLOWEEN

PG 8 • November 2018 • insiteatlanta.com

BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY

(Emily Watson) and their children but she won’t have him unless he promises never to see his male lover, Lord Alfred “Bosie” Douglas (Colin Morgan) again. Wilde agrees for a moment – “That part of my life is behind me” – but melts when Bosie shows up. Two other old friends turn up too: Robbie (Edwin Thomas), the literary executor who thinks he’s Bosie’s rival for Oscar’s affection; and Reggie (Colin Firth), an underdeveloped character belatedly revealed to be an actor but seeming like an afterthought to squeeze Everett’s Another Country co-star into the production. Wilde died at 46, not looking as good as Everett does at 59; but the actor, rarely seen in the U.S. in a decade and a half, wears a fat suit and awesome (but not always consistent) prosthetic makeup. He also wrote and directed the film, obviously hoping it would be his “Oscar” role in more ways than one. What bothers me most is how rarely Wilde’s wit comes across in the dialogue, even when he’s having a good time. It’s what he’s best remembered for and Everett’s script turns him into a bore. A well-acted, brilliantly made-up, beautifully photographed bore, but one often less interesting than what’s going on around him.

–Steve Warren

VIPER CLUB (R)

 I watched Viper Club while the Khashoggi story was dominating the headlines, and it was a rare instance when the movies couldn’t make a topic more interesting than real life. The journalist in the movie, whose fate is unknown until the end (so no spoilers here), is an allAmerican boy, Andrew Sterling. When he is apparently kidnapped by terrorists in Syria, his mother, Helen (Susan Sarandon) starts trying to bring him home. She begins by dealing with

VIPER CLUB

HUNTER KILLER (R)

1/2 I’ve never understood why Gerard Butler is a movie star. He’s average-looking and his performances are never more than adequate, usually in pictures that don’t deserve any better.

His latest, named for a class of submarines, is allthrills, no-frills. Action fans should appreciate the nonstop, not-quite-mindless action, but may be disappointed that the hero is a humanitarian who goes to great lengths to prevent a war between the U.S. and Russia that might wipe out the human race. That doesn’t mean there’s not plenty of shooting and torpedoing and stuff involved. In the beginning both nations have subs sunk near the Russian coast. Another American sub, the USS Arkansas captained by Joe Glass (Butler), is sent to the area to investigate and retaliate if necessary.

A SEAL team is dropped on Russian soil for no apparent reason, but they come in handy when the Russian president is kidnapped in a coup by his Minister of Defense. When the Russian president and the captain of the sunk Russian sub are both “guests” on the American sub, can bipartisanship save the day? The very best of these films develop both characters and situations, but Hunter Killer is far from the best. Only one of the four SEALs even has a name heard more than once, and the U.S. president’s name may as well be “Ma’am.” The crew of the USS Arkansas is composed of dozens of men and one woman. (Bet she’s got some #metoo stories to tell!) When they’re entering an area where the Russians have sound sensors, the crew is admonished to be totally silent...by a fullvolume announcement on the ship’s p.a. system.

I don’t want to be a buzz killer, but Butler and Hunter Killer deserve each other.

–Steve Warren

the FBI, who tell her: a) Don’t tell anyone else; and b) No money can change hands; doing business with terrorists is illegal. After two-anda-half months without progress she’s frustrated with the bureaucracy – she talks to the State Department and learns they don’t communicate with the FBI. She’s had to pretend nothing’s wrong at her job as an ER nurse, where one of the doctors she works with is Iranian. A friend of her son’s introduces Helen to the Viper Club, a loose organization of journalists and others who work in war zones. She meets Charlotte (Edie Falco), whose journalist son was returned after similar events, and starts raising money for Andrew’s ransom. The film seems to exist as an excuse for Sarandon to do some political ranting, including a gratuitous plug for organ donation; but while the message seems to be “Everything the government tells you is a lie,” valid points are made on both sides of the argument of how to handle the situation. Part tearjerker (lots of shots of mother and son when he was young) and part high school-level debate about how to deal with terrorists, it has little tension and no action.

–Steve Warren

See the rest of our movie reviews at insiteatlanta.com/movies.asp

TV

Station Control

NEW SUPERNATURAL SHOWS

BY BENJAMIN CARR

G

The Haunting of Hill House

HOSTS AND DARKNESS HAUNT a good many recent TV revivals and retellings. Though arguably none cast as dark a shadow as Roseanne Barr’s Twitter comments over The Conners; horror, shock, murder and terror are in abundance in new programming.

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THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE (Netflix)

This stunning, great series from horror director Mike Flanagan (Gerald’s Game) takes the bones of the classic Shirley Jackson novel and creates an entirely new monster out of it. Instead of a group of diverse, troubled paranormal investigators coming to research a haunted house, as shown in two previous movie adaptations, we now get the characters as the eclectic, damaged Crain family - who came to renovate and flip the mansion in the 1990s. Instead, the psychological torments and ghosts of Hill House cause them years of torture and dysfunction.

With an ensemble led by Game of Thrones star Michiel Huisman, Carla Gugino and Oscar winner Timothy Hutton, this series blends a wonderful, layered family drama with dark, terrifying scares. Filmed in Atlanta, this is must-see.

THE CHILLING ADVENTURES OF SABRINA (Netflix)

The teenage witch of Archie Comics fame returns to TV in this new series from Riverdale creator Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, who creates a darker, twisted hourlong teen saga instead of a silly, half-hour sitcom. The results are far bloodier and more compelling.

Mad Men star Kiernan Shipka now stars as Sabrina Spellman, a half-witch half-human The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina

girl raised by her two aunts in Greendale.

Sabrina, like Buffy the Vampire Slayer before her, faces down the challenges of a secret identity, supernatural threats and growing up different.

The resulting show is fun. Shipka is a charming actress, and her co-stars Ross Lynch, Lucy Punch and Miranda Otto provide strong support and compelling characters. The show is unpredictable and strange, like Riverdale before it, but its quirks are its greatest strength. As an added plus, Sabrina is so much better than the weak, hokey Charmed reboot now on CW.

HEATHERS (Paramount Network)

After months of delays spurred by actual school violence, the Paramount Network formerly Spike TV - has made available all of this reimagined version of the 1989 black comedy that starred Winona Ryder and Christian Slater. Though ten episodes were made, now nine of them are airing.

The show remakes its trio of popular, pretty girls who rule high school with an iron fist into a culturally diverse, open-minded, sexually fluid and politically correct group of teens who still manage to make high school a living hell for one another.

Nice touches echo back to the original movie, and the murders and suicides still add a level of pitch black darkness to the proceedings. But this feels very different and, in fact, a little safer than the original material. Still, it was a daring idea, and the young cast is great and deserves attention - particularly Melanie Field’s plus-sized bully version Heather Chandler. And kudos should go to the network for finally letting it see the light of day.

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Winners' List DINING

The Flying Biscuit serves great breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner seven days a week starting at 7 am. They are known for their mouthwatering biscuits and affordable menu items. Their signature dish is The Flying Biscuit Breakfast. It is served with two large farm-fresh eggs, free-range chicken and sage breakfast sausage. The Flying Biscuit offers an organic-friendly menu and bakery.

You can’t go wrong with a famous Flying Biscuit Breakfast.

BEST BURGER Farm Burger

See the Full List of Best Of Categories online at INsiteAtlanta.com East Atlanta Village. It is a favorite hangout among residents and those visiting the area. Their extensive menu is made famous by their award winning burgers.

BEST BAGELS Emerald City Bagels

Glenwood Ave. East Atlanta Ordering 404.343.3758 emeraldcitybagels.com

BEST BARBECUE Pig-N-Chik pignchik.net

Mother & daughter duo Deanna & Jackie Halcrow, made a big splash when they started Emerald City Bagels only a few years ago. They started working out of a shared commecial kitchen and along with their bagel-making team, worked tirelessly creating and delivering the best bagels in the city. In January of this year they opended their first store in East Atlanta Village. It is modeled after their favorite bagel shops in lower Manhattan.

BEST BAR FOOD Flatiron

Sandy Springs 404.255.6368 Brookhaven 770.451.1112 Emory Area 404.474.9444 Pig-N-Chik ribs are St. Louis cut and cooked until they show a pink smoke ring. This makes them nice and tender with just the right smoky flavor. The barbecue here is served naked to appreciate but there are homemade Pig-N-Chik sauces on the tables. You will also find great barbecue pork, turkey, beef brisket, chicken wings, smoked salmon along with a variety of sides, and salads.

BEST BREAKFAST The Flying Biscuit

520 Flat Shoals East Atlanta 404.688.8864 flatironatl.com The Flatiron is located in the historic flatiron building on the corner of Flat Shoals and Glenwood, in the heart of

Candler Park 404.687.8888 Midtown 404.874.8887 flyingbiscuit.com

Dunwoody 770.454-2201 Decatur 404.378-5077 Buckhead 404.816-0603 Grant Park 404.748-1310 farmburger.com Farm Burger is about more than just a great burger. It is a labor of love that satisfies its founders’ personal commitment to animal welfare, ecological agriculture and sustainability practices. All Farm Burger burgers are grass-fed, antibiotic and hormone-free, locally raised, ground fresh, made in-house and griddled to perfection!

BEST BURRITO Willy’s Mexicana Grill

31 Area Locations Catering 404.422.7107 willys.com Atlanta’s original burrito chain is still the best. Willy’s award winning California-style burritos keep the concept of freshness true.

Their rice and beans are cooked daily using no lard or animal products. Willy’s restaurants are vegetarian friendly offering grilled tofu and veggie burritos. Willy’s is a great choice to cater your holiday party, call (404)422-7107 to speak to a catering expert. Now get your Willy’s delivered with Door Dash.

BEST CHINESE Chin Chin 3887 Peachtree Rd. 404.816.2229 and other area locations chinchinGA.com

Celebrating 25 Years in Brookhaven, Chin Chin serves up

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Sandy Springs / Buckhead 4920 Roswell Rd • 404-255-6368 Chamblee / Brookhaven 5071 Peachtree Industrial Blvd. • 770-451-1112 Emory Area 1815 Briarcliff Rd. • 404-474-9444 WE DELIVER • WE DELIVER • WE DELIVER • WE DELIVER • WE DELIVER

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Atlanta’s finest authentic Chinese cuisine.

Chin Chin has several locations around Metro Atlanta, each with the same great flavor, healthy portions and elegant décor.

Brookhaven location now has an exciting new sushi bar!

BEST DELI Goldberg’s

7 Restaurants + Hartsfield Jackson goldbergbagels.com Goldberg’s is chosen as Atlanta’s favorite deli year after year. Here you will find the finest cuts of meat and freshest salads. All Goldberg’s Atlanta locations offer full table seating.

Visit any of their seven metro locations and airport with Battery Village now open.

BEST DESSERTS Macaron Queen

Perimeter Mall 908.867.8336 macaronqueen.com Macaron Queen desserts offers French pastries that are delicious, delectable and with less calories, a guilt-free slice of heaven! Madame Macaron’s menu varies from individual desserts, cakes, Macarons, parfaits, and cookies all with the finest ingredients and exquisite taste. Find them online, Perimeter Mall and Atlanta retailers.

BEST DINER Landmark Diner

3652 Roswell Rd. 404.816.9090 landmarkdiner.com A landmark of great meals 24 hours a day!

Whether you crave a 2 a.m. breakfast or an 8 a.m. steak, you can get it here. Find great sandwiches, salads, seafood along with Italian and Greek dishes. Visit their Buckhead restaurant (pictured) or any of their five locations around town.

BEST GREEK Athens Pizza

1341 Clairmont Rd. 404.636.1100 athenspizzaatlanta.com Since 1966, Papadop oulos family at Athens Pizza has been serving the same delicious Greek cuisine to the Emory / Decatur area that their customers have come to expect. There is much more than pizza here. Authentic dishes including Veal, Roasted Lamb or the Oven Baked Chicken. Athens Pizza offers lunch and dinner and is popular for catering. Call to book your holiday party in one of their private rooms.

BEST INEXPENSIVE BEST MEAL DEAL Eats 600 Ponce de Leon Ave.

404.888.9149 eatsonponce.net Best Of Continues on Page 12

FlatIron BEST BAR FOOD

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520 Flat Shoals Ave • East Atlanta • (404) 688-8864

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31 locations atl • athens • peachtree city • columbus • cartersville insiteatlanta.com • November 2018 • PG 11

For over 25 years people have been heading down to Ponce to experience their great jerk chicken and pasta dishes. Over all this time Eats has maintained the high quality of their food and kept their prices low. They are routinely awarded Best Inexpensive Restaurant and this year Best Meal Deal for their $7.50 Jerk Chicken Special.

BEST MEDITERRANEAN Mediterranean Grill

N. Decatur Plaza 404.320.0101 Midtown 404.917.1100; East Cobb 678.996.0045; Athens 706.543.5000 mediterraneangrill.com Mediterranean Grill is a perennial Best Of Winner. For nearly 20 years, Atlantans have visited this beloved family / chef-owned and operated restaurant. They serve authentic regional dishes like gyros, falafel and kabob sandwiches made to perfection. Plus try their spanakopita, dolmas, amazing humus and fall off the bone lamb shank!

BEST NOODLE BOWL Jinya Ramen Bar Sandy Springs 5975

Roswell Rd. 404.600.6974 I Buckhead 3714 Roswell Rd. 404.549.2583 jinya-ramenbar.com

JINYA Ramen Bar was founded by Tomonori Takahashi in 2010. The son of a successful restaurateur in Japan, Tomonori came to the states looking for a place where one could enjoy the traditional taste and flavor of ramen.

Jinya is based on three values: Delicious food at reasonable prices that’s accessible to all.

The locations in Buckhead and Sandy Springs have been a instant hit among their many fans.

They offer nine beers on tap plus more in the bottle.

Seating available inside and out. Live blues is played nightly starting at 8pm featuring many of the local favorites.

BEST OUTDOOR DINING BEST SUSHI Park Tavern 500 10th Street NE 404.249.0001 parktavern.com

Where better to dine than al fresco at Park Tavern.

They have one of the best views in the city overlooking Piedmont Park and the Midtown Skyline. This amazing backdrop provides for a great atmosphere and is dogfriendly. The large climate controlled patio includes table seating, private cabanas, an oyster bar, fire pits, and TV's to catch your favorite teams in action. Patrons also know about their great sushi which is popular at the restaurant and during private events. Get half off sushi and PT Drafts nightly from 9pm to midnight.

BEST PIZZA Johnny’s Pizza

Multiple Area Locations johnnyspizza.com Johnny's Pizza has been synonymous with great pizza in Atlanta since 1977. They specialize in NY style, which is thin in the middle and thick around the edges. You can also choose from their hot oven-toasted subs, salads, calzones, starters and Italian dinners. All Johnny’s restaurants offer dine-in, take-out and delivery.

With 25 locations around Atlanta there is bound to be one near you.

BEST RIBS Fat Matt’s

1811 Piedmont Ave. 404.607.1622 fatmattsribshack.com Since 1990, award winning Fat Matt’s Rib Shack has been one of Atlanta’s favorite hot spots. These ribs are smoked to perfection and literally falling off the bone.

Order by the slab, half-slab, as a combo or chopped pork sandwich. Great barbecue chicken and sides as well.

BEST SOUTHWESTERN BEST MARGARITAS Agave 242 Boulevard SE 404.588.0006

agaverestaurant.com

Agave’s unique blend of eclectic southwestern cuisine, extensive tequila bar and wine list coupled with exceptional service makes this one of Atlanta’s top restaurants. They’ve won numerous awards from various publications for their inspired dining experience. Agave offers over 100 tequilas and 12 specialty margaritas on the menu. All Agave margaritas are made with blue agave tequilas and fresh squeezed lime juice.

BEST SUB SANDWICH Baldinos Giant Jersey Subs

Marietta 770.321.1177; Doraville 770.455.8570 Milton 678.580.0434 baldinos.us Baldinos is celebrating their 13th straight year being voted as the Best Sub Sandwich in the Atlanta.

Baldinos Giant Jersey Subs has been recognized as the only true New Jersey Style submarine in the South. They bake their bread fresh daily and every sub is made custom to order. When you eat a Baldinos sub you know the difference. Try their $3.99 Sub Special available all day.

BEST TAPAS Eclipse di Luna Dunwoody

678.205.5862 Buckhead 404.846.0449 eclipsediluna.com Eclipse di Luna has set the trend for tapas restaurants in Atlanta. With over two dozen tapas to choose from, there

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THURSDAY “ Check out our new chicken breast” Try our #21 FRIDAY Meatless Combo - Tuna (#10) or Veg Stir Fry (#27) w/ side

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SATURDAY Steak Out-A-Steak Sub Your Choice (#11, #13 or #19) SUNDAY American Special (#14) w/ choice of soup or side Marietta 80 Powers Ferry Road Doraville 5697 Buford Hwy (770) 321-1177 (closed Sundays) (770) 455-8570

Milton 12890 Hwy 9 (678) 580-0434

Atlanta’s BEST SUBS 13 Years Running!

Winner Best Thai

rhood Gem o b h ig e N ”Top 100 nts in America” Restaura le

–Open Tab

541 Main St. at Lindbergh City Center, Atlanta GA 30324 Self & Valet Parking • 26thai.com • (404) 400-5995 PG 12 • November 2018 • insiteatlanta.com

26thai

While others have come and gone, Laughing Skull Lounge continues to attract huge talent who perform to lively audiences.

is something to please any taste.

Their tapas are priced affordably to encourage multiple sampling. The menu offers a variety of glutton-free and vegetarian tapas.

BEST IMPROV Village Theatre

BEST THAI 26 THAI KITCHEN & BAR 541 Main St. at Lindbergh City Center 404.400.5995 26thai.com As a young girl in Thailand, Niki Pattharakositkul loved to cook. She would spend hours in the kitchen alongside my mother, honing and perfecting her craft. She learned delicious traditional Thai recipes using authentic, seasonal, fresh ingredients – and always preparing everything from scratch. At the age of 26 she finally fulfilled her lifelong dream of opening a first class Thai restaurant. Customers can expect the same fresh, delicious, and authentic Thai food made from scratch, and utilizing only the finest, locally-sourced ingredients.

NIGHTLIFE

BEST COMEDY CLUB Laughing Skull Lounge 878 Peachtree St. 877.523.3288 laughingskulllounge.com Located in the back of the Vortex in Midtown, this intimate comedy club has made a big imprint on Atlanta’s comedy scene.

488 Flat Shoals Ave. in East Atlanta Monday, Nov 5

SMOKING POPES

349 Decatur Street 404.688.8858 villagecomedy.com Village Theatre was started by 13 local improvisers who met while performing at Whole World Theatre. The cast of friends originally preformed only one show a week, titled Sunday Improv Sunday at TenHigh in the VA Highland. The group gained a loyal following, and they started The Village Theatre in 2008. Last month they celebrated their 10 Year Anniverary!

THE PINK SPIDERS | AMUSE ------------------------------------Tuesday, Nov 6

KING BUFFALO

DEAD NOW | MATHIS HUNTER BAND ------------------------------------Wednesday, Nov 7

LEE BAINS III & THE GLORY FIRES

HUNGER ANTHEM ------------------------------------Monday, Nov 12

THE MERCURY PROGRAM DOVE LEGS ------------------------------------Tuesday, Nov 13

SPARTA

TWIN CRIMINAL ------------------------------------Wednesday, Nov 14

BEST LATIN MUSIC BEST SALSA DANCING Loca Luna 550 Amsterdam Ave. 404.875.4494 loca-luna.com Samba. Salsa.

Merengue! They have it all at Loca Luna, where you'll find live Latin music nightly and savory dishes from Spain, South America and Latin America. Their location on Amsterdam Ave offers a tropical outdoor patio with Midtown skyline view. The happening bar is open till 2:30am on weekends. Loca Luna features live Latin music every night on their large dance floor and the hottest DJ's spin late night on Fridays and Saturdays. Plenty of free parking and free valet available.

Continued on Page 15

WYE OAK

THOR & FRIENDS ------------------------------------Friday, Nov 16

RON GALLO

Best Latin Music Best Salsa Dancing

------------------------------------Saturday, Nov 17

OMNI

WARM RED | RATED AGE ------------------------------------Thursday, Nov 29

BIRDCLOUD

DIP | SUPERBODY ------------------------------------Friday, Nov 30

MERCYLAND HISTORICAL EXSTRACT

THE GOTOBEDS ------------------------------------Saturday, Dec 1

MAGNAPOP

loca-luna.com 550 Amsterdam Ave. (404) 875-4494

ELF POWER MOTHERFUCKER | BLACK TO COMM (MC5 TRIBUTE BAND)

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TWINLOOKING PEAKS BUCKHEAD BEST WAITSTAFF! 3365 PIEDMONT RD. ATLANTA, GA 30305 Twin Peaks Buckhead (404) 961-8946 3365 Piedmont Rd. • (404) 961-8946

HANGOVER BURGER | BILLIONAIRE’S BACON BURGER | AVOCADO SMASH BURGER

132 10th Street NE • Midtown (404) 537-4477 HenrysATL.com

THANK YOU! To All of the Winners and Voters of This Year’s Poll! insiteatlanta.com insiteatlanta.com • November 2018 • PG 13

STAGE

BY THE BOOK

LeVar Burton Reads at the Variety Playhouse Well that’s kind of what podcasting is all about.

It’s turned content and consumption on its ear.

There are a lot of podcasts and podcast festivals featuring live performances, so I feel this show fits right into that sort of presentation. It’s been amazing to watch the format grow.

BY LEE VALENTINE SMITH

B

EST KNOWN AS AN ACTOR, director and author, LeVar Burton has added podcaster to his list of accomplishments.

He continues to be recognized for his starring role as young Kunta Kinte in the groundbreaking 1977 television miniseries Roots, as Lt. It is exciting especially considering some of the Commander Geordi La Forge in Star Trek: The early live podcasts were very low key with just Next Generation and as the popular host of the a couple of people sitting long-running PBS children’s around a microphone. But series Reading Rainbow. your show is more like a But Burton’s constant variety show. passion is his lifetime Wednesday, Nov 14 Well it is a fun evening. I obsession with the printed start out by reading a story by variety-playhouse.com word. An avid reader in a local author from the city. school and college, his love They’re in the house and then for storytelling is finally on we have a conversation. As I’m reading the story, full display during three seasons of LeVar Burton I select a musical instrument that I think will Reads, a successful podcast series via Stitcher. marry itself well with the feeling or the theme or During a break from production duties, he’s the rhythm of the story. So there’s live musical taking the show on the road this fall with a crossaccompaniment onstage. Then the author and country trek that includes a stop at the Variety I do a Q and A with the audience after our Playhouse. INsite spoke with the eloquent artist conversation and then we do a meet and greet. recently from his home in California.

That’s a pretty full evening.

LAVAR BURTON

This is a great concept, reading live on stage.

I think so. Basically it’s a night of storytelling.

We tested it out earlier in the year and I found out that I liked it a lot. So now we’re going back out this fall and see what happens from there.

It’s great that you’re taking a decidedly old-school platform and digitizing it for the modern world.

How do you select the story and guest author for each city? For example, how did you select the Atlanta content?

Well the story is driven by the city itself. For Atlanta, I’ve just read the story and I haven’t even reached out to the author yet.

So this will be as of-the-moment and fresh as possible.

Very much so. I’ll do a cue to cue with the musician about 90 minutes before the show, then we’re on! So there’s no time for it not to seem fresh.

Very much seat-of-pants-style podcasting.

Very much so, except I’ll have read the story several times and I know where I’m going with it. It really is a live storytelling experience. All the episodes we’ll do live will eventually show up in the feed as well. If you’re not able to be in the room on the night, which is a pretty cool experience in itself, you can still hear it later.

How do you select a story for any given episode?

Do you have specific criteria for each selection?

I have to like the story and want to read it aloud. (Laughs) That’s pretty much it! Hey, it’s my show. My rules, right? It’s just me, a story and a microphone.

Now that’s the pure artistic freedom that every artist strives for.

It is! And it’s only taken me 42 years in the business to achieve it!

Podcasts have really superseded radio because it’s such a personal experience.

That’s really true. It’s a customized content, on your time, on your dime. I’ve found that even with including commercials, it’s a situation where my voice actually compliments the product. The goal is to make the ad experience feel a bit more like a part of the content.

Very much the Paul Harvey approach.

Remember him? He’d turn a liniment ad into what sounded like a breaking news story.

I loved Paul Harvey! [Drops into Harvey voice] Good ...day! He was a master at it because he was a newsman. Then Madison Avenue took over and America feel asleep. It showed that we have a tendency from then until now, that we’ll believe any damned thing - if we hear it enough.

It’s still strange to me that people are so easily led.

Well this is the culture that led people to believe that cigarettes were so safe, doctors were smoking in hospitals, right?

Even with The War of the Worlds, people were freaking out that the Earth was actually being invaded.

Yeah, if you say it in a convincing enough voice, some people will believe it. Even these days, if you say a lie often enough and loud enough, it has a shot at becoming a ‘truth.’ And that’s really scary.

PG 14 • November 2018 • insiteatlanta.com

Let’s talk about the power of reading in your life.

I’ve been a huge reader all of my life. I was reading even before I went to school.

Your reading level must have been so far beyond your peers, even as a first-grader.

Well the book that I cite when I really got what reading was, was Rudyard Kipling’s Captains Courageous. I read that in third-grade and was so engrossed in the story and the characters.

When I finished it, I was struck with a profound sadness because I was leaving that world. To this day, when I’m reading a particularly good piece of fiction, I consciously slow down during the last couple of chapters if I know it’s one of those ‘I’ll be depressed when I leave this world’ stories.

You continued to read as you studied the priesthood and into college.

Yeah, one of the first books I read when I got to USC was The Autobiography of Malcom X. That was a major turning point for you.

It was because the very next year, I met Alex Haley, who was Malcom’s co-author.

And Roots hadn’t even been written at that point, but it was about to change your life.

Yeah, he was in the process of writing it. The Doubleday edition and the ABC miniseries came out very close to one-another, within months.

What an incredible cross-cultural moment that book and the series became. For your personally and for everyone at the same time.

It was remarkable to see a singular piece of art engage an entire nation in conversation. I’d never seen anything like it. Everybody was engaged at the same time and people were looking at it from the unique point of view of the Africans.

The Roots franchise is unique in that you were actually able to revisit it. But the original was an incredibly rare moment that tied books to television to general public discourse.

It was maybe one of the last moments where we could remember and acknowledge the moment where we all were living in and shared a common truth. These days, I don’t know if we can share in a common truth anymore. But that truth was just how rueful the nature of slavery was and how the human cost was something we’d never focused on before. We had managed to anesthetize ourselves against those feelings.

Then the post-Roots period with the PBS shows led to Reading Rainbow and now here you are, reading live on tour.

Well, true to pattern, literature was involved.

That seems to be the one common theme of your life.

The written word has always played heavily in my own personal and career trajectory. And now it continues!

BEST LOOKING WAITSTAFF BEST BARTENDERS Twin Peaks 3365 Piedmont Road 404.961.8946 2475 G. Busby Pkwy.

678.348.1605 twinpeaksrestaurant.com

Twin Peaks, the mountain lodgestyle sports restaurant and its Twin Peaks girls offer great views! Let their outgoing wait staff bring delicious food to your table.

At the bar choose from an extensive selection of 29-degree draft beers on 32 taps while the girls pour and serve into huge ice-cold, frosted mugs.

BEST MUSIC VENUE OUTDOOR Frederick Brown Amphitheatre 201 McIntosh Trail, Peachtree City 877.725.8849 amphitheater.org

The Fred Amphitheater is nestled in the woods of Peachtree City only a 45 minute drive from Atlanta. It opened in 1991 and is named after former mayor Frederick Brown, Jr. Each year has seen increased crowds and bigger name national acts. 2018 was a banner season with great shows including: The Commodores, Brian Setzer, Eddie Money and Lindsey Buckingham. Go to their website and join their mailing list for 2019 season.

BEST LOCAL MUSIC BEST ROCK BEST PATIO SCENE CLUB BEST LOUNGE Henry's Midtown Tavern 132 10th Street NE404.537.4477 The Earl 488 Flat Shoals Ave.

404.522.3950 badearl.com

An Atlanta institution for great music, drinks and grub. National acts and the best of the emerging Atlanta music scene grace the stage nightly to packed crowds. Check out this month: Ron Gallo (Fri. Nov 16); Omni (Sat. Nov 17); Birdcloud (Thu. Nov 29) and Mercyland (Fri. Nov 30).

BEST MUSIC VENUE Center Stage 1374 West Peachtree Street 404.885.1365 centerstage-atlanta.com

Center Stage Theater is an icon in the Atlanta music and performing arts community. An intimate venue where every seat is a winner with premier sound and lighting systems, a cozy lounge area and prime location in the heart of Midtown, Center Stage Theater stands apart from the rest. Part of an entertainment complex contaning Vinyl and The Loft.

HenrysATL.com Henry’s is located on bustling 10th Street in the heart of Midtown. Henry’s welcomes people who crave a good atmosphere as much as great food. Named for owner Maureen Kalmanson’s dog, Henry’s offers an ideal mix of high-end and casual. The spacious interior is home to two bars and seating for 160, but the patios are most popular by their patrons, especially at night.

BEST SPORTS BAR Hudson Grille

8 Atlanta locations hudsongrille.com Hudson Grille is the perfect place to catch the game, to meet friends for a great meal, or enjoy drinks from one of their expansive bars. They offer much more than your typical bar food. Enjoy 50+ draft beers, party rooms and great views of way too many HD TV's. Pair that with an upscale atmosphere and friendly staff, and you’ll see why Hudson Grille is the best sports bar in Atlanta.

LIFESTYLE BEST BOOT CAMP Higher Purpose Fitness

1595 Peachtree Parkway Cumming 678.525.6347 higherpurposefitness.com Not all Boot Camps are alike.

Higher Purpose Fitness burns fat fast. They offer 45 minute high energy sessions to get you in and out. Their trainers are highly certified with degrees from top nationally recognized organizations.

BEST DERMATOLOGY SERVICES BEST AESTHETICIAN Perimeter Dermatology

5505 Peachtree Dunwoody Rd. Suite 412 404.459.9177 perimeterdermatology.com Perimeter Dermatology, PC is committed to offering quality professional dermatological services and skincare. Their highly skilled and educated providers take the time to understand patient concerns and goals before customizing a comprehensive treatment plan. Perimeter Dermatology is a full-service practice that encompasses the full array of medical, surgical and cosmetic dermatology services, including advanced laser technology, the latest skin peels, cosmetic injectables and fillers. Come visit with their knowledgeable staff including Hillary Grady Seymore voted Best Aesthetician 2018.

BEST MARTIAL ARTS Unit 2 Fitness 240 Ponce De Leon Ave.

404.745.3019 unit2fitness.com Whether it be Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, Kickboxing, Boxing or Mixed Martial Arts you know you are being instructed Best Of Continues on Page 17

MUSIC

A GLEE-FUL SONG AND DANCE MAN Matthew Morrison looks back to his Broadway days with the ASO

BY LEE VALENTINE SMITH

time. It’s the best role I’ll ever play.

singing it. That’s the power these timeless songs possess.

E’S KNOWN TO TELEVISION AND POP CULTURE aficionados as Will Schuester, the affable music teacher from Glee, but Matthew Morrison continues to enjoy a wildly-varied career.

From his earliest days as a Broadway song-and-dance man to challenging dramatic roles in films and on Grey’s Anatomy and The Good Wife, the talented actor hasn’t been type-cast by his past.

At his rescheduled show with the Atlanta Symphony, this month Morrison will be revisiting his Broadway years with a selection of pop standards with some fancy footwork thrown in for good measure.

During a break from taping The Greatest Dancer in London, INsite caught up with the renaissance man at a hotel in Laguna Beach, California at his 40th birthday celebration.

But you have a few increasingly rare live shows on the books, including this month with the ASO. Yeah, we had a date scheduled a while back and we had to postpone it. Now I’m really excited to get there. I’m working on a lot of new numbers and trying to make it really memorable for the audience. Basically, this is what I do well and I’m happy to share a night of music and dance with Georgia.

You’re also doing a reality show in the UK these days.

Yeah and for Atlanta, that day I’ll be flying in from London, we’re doing the series there. I’ll fly right from there to Atlanta. Maybe the jetlag will make me crazy, in the best-possible way.

H

Besides turning 40, this has been a busy year for you.

The most creative thing I’ve done so far is that my child just turned one. I’m trying to create my own version of being the best dad I can possibly be and I’m having a great

Can you tell us about the show?

It’s a new Simon Cowell show, mostly for the UK and surrounding territories. It’s called The Greatest Dancer and it’s a search to find the UK’s MATTHEW greatest dancers.

You’re accustomed to doing live performances on Broadway, but is a symphony show different from that experience?

MORRISON Do you like the competitive nature of a show Yeah, in the theatre the orchestra is usually Friday, Nov. 16 • 8PM like that? underneath the stage or somewhere you can’t Atlanta Symphony Orchestra I don’t really like being a judge. Art for me see them. But with the symphony, to have them atlantasymphony.org isn’t to be judged, it’s an expression of self. onstage with me is just more powerful. The only People express themselves in whatever way thing I can really associate it to is I sort of feel like a General with an Army. I have this beautiful-sounding Army they want to evoke something. For me, it’s a good way to inspire behind me and I’m front and center, leading my troops. But there’s a future generation, to provide critical feedback to help young artists. It’s been a very rewarding and positive experience. no room for error so I have to be in tip-top shape. I have to be right on it, because there are too many moving parts. Everyone’s You’re obviously best-known from Glee, but you’ve managed to reading their music and I’ve gotta stick to my script. avoid being type-cast with roles.

Glee has hung on a bit, but it has opened the doors so I can have Does that change the program?

There are some songs that don’t really lend themselves to the a career past it. I’ll never discredit it, but sometimes people do see symphony, so I tend to go with the standards, the classics that me as that happy-go-lucky teacher. were just made for the symphony. I love singing those classic The power of TV is what sold you to the mainstream. Since songs because they evoke so much emotion with very simple you’ve been in their house on television, do people act as if they lyrics. Like from Oliver, “As Long As He Needs Me.” I used know you? to change it to “As Long As She Needs Me,” but after having It’s really interesting. Sometimes people do come up and talk my son, I was like, ‘I wonder if I can turn it back and make it to me like I’m Mr. Schuester. They feel like they call tell me their about him. It changed the whole song for me. I feel like going problems and stuff. I’m a pretty nice guy so I’ll try to listen and through life and singing these beautiful songs over the years, they constantly change meanings depending on the day I’m help whenever I can. insiteatlanta.com • November 2018 • PG 15

MUSIC

SOUL’S CORE: REVISITED AND REVIVED Twenty Years Later, Shawn Mullins Rerecords His Definitive Album

BY LEE VALENTINE SMITH

B

there with us. They feel like a part of my band, even though that’s silly to even say.

But it just felt like family.

ACK WHEN COMMERCIAL alternative radio could make or break a career, Shawn Mullins’ Soul’s Core How are you planning to present it live? propelled him to international acclaim Will you do the album in its entirety? and a lucrative major label deal. By late What I’d really like to do is eventually 1998, his single “Lullaby” was inescapable take the whole thing on the road like a big and the hype - initiated by Atlanta’s 99X musical carnival. And have Randall and immediately boosted a career which had Michelle and all these great people who are languished in small clubs for the previous all kinda local, between Athens and Atlanta, nine years. and do a real Soul’s Core Revival tour Originally issued on his own SMG label, featuring not only my stuff but theirs too. then remastered and released by Columbia Records, Soul’s Core remains Mullins’ most Like your very own Rolling Thunder Revue. successful album. The easy-going singerExactly! Or what [drummer] Levon [Helm] songwriter still performs selections from it was doing at his “Rambles” [in Woodstock, at every performance.

New York]. We did five of those shows with To mark the 20th this band and it was anniversary of the record, always an incredible Mullins comes full circle experience. The first with an independent, time was the big one, Saturday, Nov. 24 • 8PM crowd-funded release you know, when you first of the collection in a Variety Playhouse meet Levon, but seeing dramatically revisited variety-playhouse.com how he and [guitarist] and expanded edition via Larry Campbell and all PledgeMusic. the rest had developed Soul’s Core Revival this vaudevillian - but not over-the-top features special guests Michelle Malone and - show, with everyone contributing their Randall Bramblett with Mullins’ longtime songs. Multiple people singing and everyone collaborators Gerry Hansen (drums), Tom playing. What a show it made. That’s Ryan (bass), Davis Causey and Patrick what I see for this band that I’m calling Blanchard (guitars) with Radoslav Lorkavich Soul Carnival. (keys and accordion) in a roadshow-style revue. The result is an impressive doubleYou have a few shows this month before the CD, four-LP version of the album, set for Variety date, but is that the official debut launch this month at the Variety Playhouse. of the record and the revival?

INsite caught up with the Atlanta-born and Yeah, it’ll really start at the Variety with based singer-songwriter at his home studio.

Michelle Malone and her band Drag The River opening.

For a twentieth-anniversary celebration, most artists might reissue a remastered I was talking with her a couple of months album, but you really went all-out for ago and she said that you are “singing your this one. ass off” these days.

Well I think the main reason is creatively, Well that’s really nice of her to say. She’s the songs are just so different now. After 20 always been a big influence on me and I years, they change. I thought it’d be a really loved Drag The River when I was first gettin’ cool thing to record them all the way we’re going. I’d go see them religiously. doing them now. That’s pretty much what you’ll get with this record. We all went out In addition to being a fine singerto Athens to John Keane’s studio to do it. songwriter and musician, she’s got an incredible spirit about her.

He’s moved into a new space, hasn’t he?

She sure does and I’ve learned a lot from Yeah, he’s moved into an old farm out there her. A lot of what I do, I look to her and and it’s wonderful. It’s just real peaceful out Amy [Ray] and Emily there and he has a great room to record a [Saliers]. A lot of full band live, old school. And that’s what we my favorite singers did. We only did one or two takes of most of are women, which is it because we’ve done ‘em so much. But we interesting. I look for changed a few things tempo-wise and had the passion that comes some fun with time signatures. from a woman singer.

Like Ann Wilson It’s definitely a good way to revisit the or Janis Joplin. I go album. When did you come up with backwards a lot with the idea? my influences and I About a year ago, Glenn Matullo, who love Odetta and Sister recorded Soul’s Core the first time around, Rosetta Tharpe and reminded me that the 20-year anniversary that’s the same kind of was coming up. I hadn’t even thought about spirit Michelle has. It’s it, but he said I ought to do something blues, it’s gospel, it’s about it. He said he thought Sony would everything. It’s rock and roll. put out a remastered thing and I started thinking about it. I thought, if I do these She’s right about your singing, it has songs again with solo and full-band versions changed over the years and lately it seems and stories before the songs, it becomes more soulful than ever. two very different things. It’s new but it’s I think it’s a survival thing. When you go retrospective in that I’m also talking about through things in your life that are really the songs. I thought it would be different heavy, you come through to the other side and fun. It was just a wonderful time with if you don’t drown. As Larry Jon Wilson Michelle Malone and Randall Bramblett used to say, ‘If I don’t drown, I’ll be a better

AT THE END OF THE DAY, I JUST LIKE TELLING A GOOD STORY.

SHAWN MULLINS

PG 16 • November 2018 • insiteatlanta.com

swimmer when I’m though.’ It just changes you. Now, I don’t even think about singing when I get up on stage, it comes out the way it comes out.

That’s singing in its purest form.

It is and unless there’s some kind of feedback or a distraction from the audience, for the most part, I’m kind of in the moment of the song, whatever it is I’m singing. Lately it’s more of a blues and soul thing. It feels like it’s what I’m supposed to be doing right now.

It’s a natural expression.

Yeah, it feels like it. And when I’m singing country-type music, it’s more whiny and more high-lonesome than it used to be. So I feel like, as a singer, you learn from your life experiences and you hope it’ll lead to a better voice.

It’s like with [John] Mellancamp, I heard an interview with him a while back and he said smoking four packs a day actually helps his voice! For me, I think just living through tough times has made me a better artist.

As your delivery has changed, do you find your songwriting style has changed over the years?

I think the melodies come the same way and I try to utilize them the same way. But what’s different now is the way I write lyrics.

That tends to change every decade. I’ll

kinda try a new school and study on it and really work that stuff out. It probably ends up becoming a combination of schools. But the one that I grew up with, people like Kris Kristofferson, they’re always there. That’s the mark. When I’m really trying to write a good song, as a goal I try to get anywhere near him or Leonard Cohen. I rarely get to that, but the goal is to try. So the intention hasn’t really changed all that much. I guess it all comes down to just making somebody feel something.

Soul’s Core contains some very personal songs. Over the years, have they changed from personal expressions into pure performance? Or are you acting as the narrator of someone else’s story?

Yeah, most of them were journal entries.

Some aren’t even changed much from what I wrote in the journal. “Lullaby” was almost verbatim. It’s weird but that feeling or level of loneliness and desperation is what led to that stuff. The way I would journal, I was trying to exercise my songwriting at the same time. That’s why they would loosely rhyme sometimes. Like, “stars” and “boulevard” don’t really rhyme, but it kinda works because of my accent, I guess. So the original intention was to not put too much of myself into it, but to tell it like you’re watching a little movie or reading a novella or something. Otherwise it seems a bit self-serving. Of course, it is anyway. But if you can make the audience believe that you really did meet that person or if that exact conversation was had, you can come up with something around that idea. I do that a lot.

But I do mix it up and yeah, sometimes I’ll put myself into it. But it’s always a fine line.

At the end of the day, I just like telling a good story.

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MUSIC

SPORTS

GEORGIA STATE PANTHERS “MAKE THE FOOD Look to Make it Back to the Tournament YOU WANT TO EAT” Jonathan Butler Does It His Way and C Finds The Reason For The Season-ing

BY DAVE COHEN

BY LEE VALENTINE SMITH

A

the audience. Someone may be celebrating Kwanzaa, and on and on. But we’re all like wells and we each individually bring forth different things from our well. It makes for a great show.

TEN-YEAR VETERAN OF THE Dave Koz and Friends holiday tours, this year Jonathan Butler will share the stage with guests Mindi Abair, Keiko Matsui and Shelea. The South African born Holiday music, done right, can touch the musician has spans the decades and the heart of even the hardest-hearted agnostic. globe with years of international acclaim as Right, as long as it comes from a very he’s moved from his birthplace to London pure place. That’s all that matters. It’s more and on to the USA. important to me than Besides featuring putting scriptures in the 2018 edition on Facebook or of the Koz holiday whatever. It’s a tour, Butler also has Christmas show that’s an exceptional new open to everybody, album. Close To You that’s what’s really finds the singer and cool about it. guitarist breathing amazing new life You are a good into some of Burt witness because Bacharach’s mostyou don’t force your interpreted songs. beliefs, it’s just a part INsite spoke with of your art.

Butler by phone Listen, some people as he planned out are called to serve ‘in his set for the Koz ’ But I think holiday tour.

DAVE KOZ AND I’m calledtheto house. serve outside the FRIENDS house, where the real sheep You’ve worked with Dave for are. For lack of a better term, Friday, Nov. 30 • 8PM years. You guys must have a you know?

Cobb Energy Centre musical shorthand by now. cobbenergycentre.com Yeah we’ve been sort of Otherwise you’re preaching to brothers in crime for, gosh the choir, literally. it’s been ten years of the And what’s the point of that, really? My Christmas tours now. We do work together challenge is to always stay fresh, alert, well. He’s always able to come up with a great sensitive and be discerning in whatever array of artists. This year is no exception, environment I’m in, be it a concert, a with Keiko, Mindi and Shelea, who is one Christmas show, a jazz festival or at Blues of the most incredible singers out there. I Alley. You have to be sensitive to what the worked with her on Kirk Whalun’s tour last needs may be that night. That’s how it is with year. I said to Koz,‘ You’ve gotta get this lady me and how it’s been since I was 19. It’s been on the show.’ We’re planning it right now; I a long time now. can tell it’s gonna be exciting.

How’d you first meet Koz? I hired him to do a session on one of my records for Polygram almost twenty years ago. Then we started working together on his summer tours, then Christmas shows came up and then the jazz cruises. We’ve stayed in touch for a long time and we always stay busy. We’re just working musicians. That’s what it is.

On The 25th of December, Dave’s holiday album from a few years ago, you did “All You Need Is Love.” It’s not a standard Christmas song by any means, but it worked well within the context.

Yes, we feel that all the songs should tie into a message and that one certainly does.

As a man of faith, is it inspiring to play Christmas songs?

You don’t want to bash people over the head, but the truth is, we are celebrating the life of Christ. For some of us who have a life transformed by Christ, such as myself, I’m not ashamed about it. Over the years, people have accepted my openness and honesty.

It just makes it all the more meaningful when we’re all out there celebrating. But it’s different for every one of us on the tour. Even PG 18 • November 2018 • insiteatlanta.com

When you were 19, you were already a major recording artist.

Yes, I’ve been recording since I was 13.

And that first single was a Burt Bacharach song.

It was! It was called “Please Stay.” I enjoy writing my own songs, but it’s amazing how I’ve really come full circle with that sort of material.

At first glance, it might seem that the tracklist for Close To You are songs that have been done to death since the ‘60s, but in your hands they seem brand new. That’s a major accomplishment with standards.

Well you see, I’m not playing them as an American artist. I’m bringing my South African background into an American composer’s music. We’ve all heard these songs many, many times. My approach was to stay close to my own roots while staying true to the songs. But that’s the way I approach any type of song, whether it’s Bacharach, a Christmas tune or one of my own songs. I have to play it the way I truly feel it. It’s about standing out, it’s about glowing in the dark. You really have to make the food that you want to eat!

OMING OFF A 24-11 SEASON a year ago and a loss to Cincinnati in the NCAA Tournament, Georgia State Basketball, led by head coach Ron Hunter, enters the 2018-19 season not only with a lot of expectations but with a lot of excitement surrounding the program. For the Panthers, it was their second NCAA Tournament appearance in the last four years. There’s no question that Hunter has moved the program onto solid ground. He’s led the Panthers to five seasons of at least twenty wins as he enters his eighth season at the helm. With an experienced nucleus of players returning, led

by All-Sun Belt Conference guard D’Marcus Simonds along with shooters Devin Mitchell and Jeff Thomas and power-forward Malik Benlevi, Georgia State will be among the favorites in the always competitive Sun Belt Conference this season.

Insite’s Dave Cohen talked with coach Ron Hunter.

Jordan Session and Isaiah Williams both graduated and are now playing professionally in Europe but with the nucleus back you’ve got to be excited about this year’s team.

I’m really happy with where we are right now.

We’ve got experience back and our young guys are really coming along. We’ve got four seniors and then you add D’Marcus (Simonds) to that and Kane (Williams) who’s played a lot of minutes.

We’ve got a lot of veterans, but we still have to go through the process. They’ve been practicing well and that’s what we’ve been doing as we get ready for the season. I feel really good about this group.

You’ve had five seasons in which your Panther teams have won twenty or more games. You’ve certainly put Georgia State Basketball on solid ground with regards to being in contention for a conference championship every year.

I’ve always said that the hardest part maintaining the success. Not that it’s easy to build or change a program’s culture, because it is difficult. I’ve now done it at two places. (IUPUI and Georgia State) Maintaining it become the challenge at the midmajor level because of the ups and downs. We had a player like R.J. (Hunter) who came out early and that set us back a little bit and we may face the same situation with D’Marcus so preparing for that scenario and all the things that come with that are a challenge. I love the success we’ve had.

I’ve got a great staff and I think that helped. So, for the most part we’ve had the continuity, but as new guys have come in, whether freshman or transfers, learned the system. Our seniors, since I’ve been here, have understood our culture of winning and

This team plays with a chip on its shoulder. They feel like they have something to prove and they want to get back to the NCAA Tournament. The best way to do that it to try and play some of the best teams in the country and that’s what we are going to do.

how the process goes. It’s great when players can teach players.

We’ve seen a number of special players here during the last seven seasons, including current All-Sun Belt Conference guard, D’Marcus Simonds, who’s heading into his junior season.

With everything that he’s already accomplished and with his skill-set, what did you want him to work on to improve during the off-season?

The obvious one is to become a better jump shooter. Sometimes that’s just shot selection. I think he’s already a very good shooter, maybe a little more streaky than anything else. More importantly too is for him to cut down on his turnovers and he’s really been working on that and I think he’s doing a much better job. We’re putting him in situations where he doesn’t have to make an outstanding play every time down the court. He’s got good players around him and I think he’s going to trust his teammates a little bit better this season.

Among the new faces this season are Pitt transfer Damon Wilson and two heralded freshmen in Nelson Phillips (Warner Robins) and Kavonte Ivery (Stockbridge). How will they impact your rotation?

You know, last year I thought our bench was average. This season will be different. I don’t know if I’ve had a bench with this since I’ve been here.

It’s a talented group but what it does not have is a ton of experience. You can throw Josh Linder and Chris Clerkley in that mix. They’ve both improved.

We’ve got a lot of guys that we can put out there that we can throw at opposing teams. Those young guys are really talented. They’ve been great in practice and have been able to push the guys in front and that makes them better.

Once again this season, you’ve put together a challenging non-conference schedule leading into Sun Belt Conference play. Games against Tulane, Alabama, Kansas State, Mercer, UNCWilmington, etc.

Yea, I may be crazy! (laughs) This is a tough schedule. But, if I’m going to schedule this way this is the team to do it with. This team plays with a chip on its shoulder. They feel like they have something to prove and they want to get back to the NCAA Tournament. The best way to do that it to try and play some of the best teams in the country and that’s what we are going to do.

Georgia State opens the regular season November 6 vs. East Tennessee State. For tickets call 404-4134020 or visit online at georgiastatesports.com.

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