The 11th Hour; June 26-July 10, 2015

You might think you don't qualify.

We think you probably do.

• JUNE 26 - JULY 10, 2015

VOL 14, ISSUE #314

A Maker’s Space

THE INTERVIEW

GIMME HENDRIX The Athen’s Based Tribute Band Plays The Hummingbird Stage

#THISBUDSFORYOU

STOREFRONT CITY SCENE

Smiley’s

Celebrates 30 Years

Film Fest Makes Big AnnouncementBragg Jam line-up!

#UPFORWHATEVER

15 DAYS

Photo of The Week

Arts + Culture + Entertainment

A Southern Dirt Road Visionary: Book Signing July 11 at Gallery West

After The Meltdown - Photographs, Narrative & Lyrical Poetry by Author John Griffin - Book signing reception at Gallery West, 447 Third Street 6-8:30 p.m.

#SceneInMacon

Submit your photo of the week to our facebook page, #SceneinMacon. If we print your photo, you’ll win tickets or gift certificates to local restaurants, concerts and more! This is going to get really interesting!

- This week’s winner is Mike Brown, who took this photo of the charred remains of NuWay on Cotton Avenue in downtown Macon. The 120 year old building burned on March 13. Owners hope to rebuild by NuWay’s 100th anniversary. The famous hot dogs downtown location first opened in 1916.

John Griffin has been actively involved in Macon’s music scene for the past thirty years. A former Bragg Jam board member, Griffin currently serves on The Big House Board of Trustees and continues to support the Big O Foundation, Grant’s Lounge and The H&H by volunteering his time and endless energy. So it is no surprise that his friends Kirk and Kirsten West, owners of Gallery West will be hosting his debut book signing and reception.

“I’ve been working on this book for the better part of five years,” said Griffin. “But I’ve been writing poetry since childhood. It’s kind of crazy, I used to ride on a tractor with my grandfather on our farm shouting to doves on the light wires.”

Griffin’s book “After The Meltdown: Photographs, Narrative & Lyrical Poetry” was published by Snake Nation Press in Valdosta, GA. “I was inspired by my upbringing on a farm, failed romances and a variety of adventures around the globe.” At 103 pages, the book is filled with what Griffin calls Southern Dirt Road Visions.

Born in Hahira, Ga., Griffin spent his early years living and working on a family farm where the way of life included hard work, tending crops, a rural route book mobile, moon pies & cracker jacks from a grocery truck. He is a U.S. Navy Veteran having served with U.S. Middle East Forces in the Persian Gulf. A 1984 graduate from Valdosta State with a B.A. in Literature, this poet, photographer and musician has finally bound his art into one tidy read.

Friday, June 26 State Bank presents Music at the Mount Music at the Mount is an outdoor concert series featuring up and coming musicians at Mount de Sales’ Academy’s Zuver Center Amphitheater. $10 per person, $10 per dinner. **Boxed dinners are available by reservation only and must be reserved at the time of admission ticket purchase.**

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11thHourOnline.com

contact us

MAILING: PO BOX 14251, Macon, GA 31203 TELEPHONE: (478) 508-7096 ADVERTISING: meg@11thhouronline.com 04 JUNE 26 - JULY 10, 2015

Spring Movie Series Presented by Macon-Bibb County Parks and Recreation at Central City Park - Screening “Wizard of Oz” Free 8 p.m. free movies at dark in Luther Williams Stadium in Central City Park. Bring blankets & chairs to sit on the green, or take a seat in the stands. Outside food and drink is permitted, but the concessions will be available for purchase.

Saturday, June 27 Totally Radical 80’s Revival Presented

by The Library Ballroom - 8:30-1:30 a.m.

Like totally get the hairspray out because this is going to be a righteous night! Dance the night away in your best 80’s gear with TROOPER and LEGENDERRY BIG HAIRY MONSTER. TROOPER is sure to please with your favorite metal jams from Motley Crew,

“John Griffin strikes me as a collard-fed, gourd-painting, harp-blowing beatnik who manages to be both courtly and subversive at the same time,” said peer and published author Candice Dyer.

Griffin has dedicated his first book to the late poet and Macon native Seaborn Jones, who passed away last year. A mentor and good friend for many years, “Jones was the best poet one could have ever spent time with and be influenced by.”

Quiet Riot, Guns & Roses and more! Then get your Flashdance on with LEGENDERRY BIG HAIRY MONSTER playing like the most rad tunes from Bon Jovi, Peter Gabriel, Duran Duran and more! It’s going to be like totally gnarly!Tickets $10, on sale now. 478-9577728. 652 Mulberry Street.

Corner Concerts Presents Caroline Rose, Great Peacock - 7:30 p.m. We’ve got one more show before the heat of the summer.

Caroline Rose and Great Peacock will be rocking it out at Cassidy’s garage, 423 Mulberry St. $5 in advance, $10 day of the show.

Drink and Ink at The 567 Center for Renewal - 7:00 p.m. Bring a bottle of your favorite wine or other beverage to sip on, bring a friend, and learn to create a 9 x 12 painting using ink and watercolor. No painting experience required. Artist Casie Trace will guide you through the steps. $25 includes all materials for the class (except the drinks).

Byron Main Street Independence Day Celebration Concert - Join us for a musical celebration in honor of independence day.

Headliner: Jason Michael Carroll with special guest Colby Dee Music. Fireworks will follow the concert. Free event! Starts at 6 p.m. North Peach Park.

Griffin pictured with Mama Louise of The H&H fame.

Photo by Kirk West

Sunday, June 28 Jazz In The Courtyard at Douglass Theatre Join us this summer for free evening concerts in the Douglass plaza! June 28 featuring Oscar Jackson & Friends 7 p.m. Bring your own chair.

Monday, June 29

Hoppy Yoga Hour Presented by Hometown Yoga - Free 6:30 p.m. in Rosa Parks Square across from City Hall. Join Megan Carson for flow and fun at our next Hoppy Hour Yoga event. Then, hop on over to Just Tap’d for beer with all your Hometown yogis! As always, we will be running special deals on all class cards at Hoppy Hour!!

Thursday, July 2

Mini-Zoo Crew In Training: One Day Workshop Presented by Museum of Arts and Sciences - Feed a critter, clean a habitat, observe animals, learn about their lives and discover what is necessary to operate a minizoo. Students will shadow Mini-Zoo staff in daily activities. May include handling small animals. Will receive certificate of completion.

478-477-3232 Time: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Fee: $20 members; $40 non-members

WE WANT YOU TO HOST TRIVIA! Have fun Learn something new Make new friends Get paid!

If Interested, Contact Kris Price 615-293-1445 Kris@BrainBlastEntertainment.com

Be

Radiant

Burt Reynolds Special Guest at July’s Macon Film Festival

The Macon Film Festival announced that Academy Award nominee and Golden Globe winner Burt Reynolds will be a special guest at the tenth annual festival, which will be held July 16-19, 2015. Mr. Reynolds will headline the Special Screening of DELIVERANCE, which was filmed in Georgia, on Friday, July 17, at the Douglass Theatre, located at 355 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd.

DELIVERANCE is an iconic Southern film about four city-dwelling friends (Reynolds, Jon Voight, Ned Beatty, Ronny Cox) who decide to get away from their jobs, wives and kids for a week of canoeing in rural Georgia. When the men arrive they are not welcomed by the backwoods locals who stalk the vacationers and savagely attack them in the woods. Reeling from the ambush, the friends attempt to return home but are surrounded by dangerous rapids and pursued by a madman. Soon, their canoe trip turns into a fight for survival.

Reynolds, who portrays alpha male Lewis Medlock in the 1972 backwoods thriller, will be available for a Q&A following the screening. The special film print secured from Warner Brothers Pictures will screen at 8:00pm.

“I love Georgia! I’ve made most of my movies there, and I’m very proud that the Macon Film Festival has selected two films that show two very different sides of what I call my lucky state,” said Burt Reynolds. “Deliverance shows a “good ole boy south” in transition, as well as the power of nature, while Sharky’s Machine features Atlanta as a modern city in the new emerging south. I was lucky to work with many friends in each of these pictures – while directing “Sharky,” I was able to work with Charles Durning, Brian Keith, and introduce the beautiful Rachel Ward to the world in her film debut.”

Reynolds added, “Playing Lewis in Deliverance was a once in a lifetime experience.

John Boorman is a master at directing, and working on the river created a bond between Jon Voight, Ned Beatty, Ronny Cox, and me that few have ever had on a film set.

I look forward to sharing these with you this summer!”

Julie Wilkerson, Macon Film Festival president said, “For our 10th Festival, we wanted to celebrate an impactful Georgia film, continue our tradition of hosting industry respected and interesting celebrities, and pay homage to our first festival. Screening Deliverance with Burt Reynolds as our guest accomplishes all three goals. Forty-three years later the film is still generating huge tourist dollars for North Georgia and the rafting industry. Burt Reynolds is an icon, and Deliverance was the film that secured his spot in stardom. It was also the first special screening at the 2006 Macon Film n Festival, so showing it this year brings us full circle. We are honored to welcome Burt Reynolds to Macon to help us celebrate this milestone year.”

Amber Caldwell Master Cosmetologist Esthetician Bridal Specialist

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Arts + Culture + Entertainment Jazz in the Courtyard Sunday, June 28

Friday, July 3 First Friday Car Show Cruise to downtown Macon for the First Friday Car Show sponsored by Robins Federal Credit Union. We’ll have muscle cars, classics, exotic cars and more at Cherry Street Plaza, 301 Cherry Street, from 6:00-8:00p.

Friday, July 10 Opening Reception of Beards of Macon exhibit at The 567 Center for Renewal featuring the photography of Ashah Smith.

Ashah loves Macon and started this project to showcase beards in Macon and the who the men are behind the them. The project not only features photographic portraits of men from many different walks of life, but also includes quotes from the men about who they are. To learn more about the project, visit the Beards of Macon Facebook page: https://www.facebook. com/beardsofmacon Drop by July 10, between 6 and 9 pm, to see the new exhibit, meet the photographer and enjoy light refreshments. From 6 to 7 pm, we will have a free art activity where kids and adults alike can learn to create simple portraits of their friends and family using pencil, stamps, and other materials. The exhibit will be on display July 10-31. 533 Cherry Street.

9 to 5 Musical Presented by Theatre Macon - Three women - an overworked office manager, a jilted wife, and an objectified secretary 06 JUNE 26 - JULY 10, 2015

- conspire to depose their smarmy boss and begin making woman-friendly changes in the workplace. Based on the 1980 hit movie.

Adults $25, Seniors $20 (60+), Students $15 (through age 22) Tickets go on sale July 6.

478-746-9485 , 438 Cherry Street “Into The Woods” Presented by Macon Little Theatre - The Brothers Grimm hit the stage with an epic fairytale about wishes, family and the choices we make. James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim take everyone’s favorite storybook characters and bring them together for a timeless yet relevant piece and rare modern classic. The TONY Award-winning book and score are both enchanting and touching. Directed by Sylvia Haynie and Laura Voss with a talented cast of singers, this production promises to be the hit of the summer. Adults: $20 Seniors(60+):$15, Students (5-23w/ID): $10.

478-471-PLAY , 4220 Forsyth Rd.

Saturday, July 11 Moonlight Miles Presented by Bragg Jam at Tattnall Square Park. Spectators are welcome to set up along the route, and awards will be given for the most enthusiastic spectators, especially those lighted up or wildly colorful.

Macon’s own drum line will kick off the event promptly at 9pm with a performance and drum send off. Register online at braggjam.org.

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NATIVE / NEW Arts + Culture + Entertainment

Smiley’s Flea Market C e l e b r a t e s 3 0 Ye a r s o f C o n t i n u e d S u c c e s s

By Nicole Thurston

The flea market business is serious business. One that Ben Campen Jr. and his father stumbled into.

One that is not only a major success for his family, but also a corner stone of Macon’s shopping culture for the past 30 years. Smiley’s Flea Market is located of Hwy 247 heading out toward Warner Robins. You can’t miss it – it is a sprawling field covered in over a 1,000 vender stalls, beckoning drivers along the highway to stop off for a few minutes, where people can enjoy some good food and quick bargains. It is, in many ways, one of the few places in town where everyone gathers together, regardless of race, nationality, or socio-economic status.

“My father started the business in 1985,” said Campen, “My grandfather (my mom’s dad,) was working in real estate. He approached my dad and said, ‘Ben, I really want to get into the flea market business.’ My dad thought he had lost his mind.”

Apparently, his grandfather loaded up the car and they headed to south Florida to see a large established market. “They got there at four in the morning, and it was already rocking and rolling. Hundreds of venders were out there, and my dad was like, ‘Okay… this sounds pretty neat.’ They built their first market in 1975 right outside of Gainesville, Florida.” And the rest, as they say, is history.

The family went on to start another market right outside of Ashville, North Carolina, around the same time they began the paperwork to acquire the property in South Macon. “I’ve always been intrigued by it,” said Campen, “So many different types of people and businesses are involved with

the flea market business. It is interesting in the way it evolves, with different lives out here. We’ve had some characters!”

Campen, along with the rest of his family, joined forces with his father to see the business grow and prosper. After college, he dabbled a bit in real estate, and eventually took the position of Owner & President. According to Campen, Smiley’s is one of his major success stories. “We have over a 1,000 selling spaces. What we do is answer the need of our venders. If they need a bigger space, we’ll make it bigger. We are constantly trying to improve the look of the market, create a space our venders want, and we want to see them successful.

Our thought process is – If they are successful, then we are successful.” And this philosophy has paid off with 30 years of continued growth.

Many of the venders typically stick around. He has some that have been there 10, 20, and even one that was there since the very beginning – 30 years ago. On July 4th, Smiley’s plans to throw a huge celebration to mark this milestone. Families are invited to come out to the market, shop a little, grab lunch, and enjoy the festivities. Live music, face painting, balloons, ice cream, and the carousel will be free from 12 until 4pm. “We will also do a drawing for someone to win up to $10,000,” said Campen. To enter is easy: Come to Smiley’s main office any Saturday or Sunday and enter to win.

There is no purchase necessary. “The day of the drawing, the person spins the wheel, and whatever it lands on, that’s what you win!”

With 30 years under their belt, Smiley’s has

Many of the venders typically stick around. Smiley’s has some that have been there 10, 20, and even one that was there since the very beginning – 30 years ago. On July 4th, Smiley’s plans to throw a huge celebration to mark this milestone.

Families are invited to come out to the market, shop a little, grab lunch, and enjoy the festivities.

perfected the weekend experience. They sell everything under the sun – you can find high end antiques, prepackaged cell phone cases, homemade quilts and leather goods, to tooth brushes, swords, and one of the biggest highlights, international food. “We have great food venders,” said Campen, “The back air conditioned mall has a full Asian grocery store. The owner has a large buffet and is opened seven days a week. She is our one vender that is open during the week. The food is a great Asian mix, mainly Filipino.” If a tasty Asian buffet is not what you are looking for, the flea market offers everything from authentic taco stands, hot dogs, hamburgers, New Orleans style food, as well as Soul Food. The food has to pass all health inspections and is offered at great prices.

Small businesses, like the Asian market, are the cornerstone of what this flea market is all about. “We like to say we are the incubator of small business,” said Campen, “The industry and startup cost for a small business is costly and difficult.” When someone wants to give the market a try, they can do so by renting a small booth out for $10 a day, then as their customer base grows, they might choose to expand, and eventually get one of the larger stalls. “We have a really interesting couple that started out with a small booth making leather goods,” said Campen, “They sew and make items for motorcycle enthusiasts. They started out small, and now they have a huge booth.” According to Campen, the market is designed to give “makers” an affordable space with a guaranteed clientele. Hundreds of people swarm to Smiley’s each weekend seeking the original, and yes, you will find true artisans within the aisles of booths.

Though Campen does not reside in Macon, he travels between his home in Jacksonville that he shares with his wife of 13 years, Robin, and their two children, Jacob (9) and Kay (7,) to Macon and the Ashville area frequently. The fact that this is a family business allows Campen to spend time with loved ones, handle the Smiley’s brand, and still find time to attend his son’s Lacrosse games and hike, surf, and boat with his family.

Community and family is at the heart of what Smiley’s wants to accomplish. “We do a lot of community events,” said Campen, “At Thanksgiving we do a community food drive and donate to the Macon Food Bank. At Christmas, we’ll do a toy drive for Toys for Tots.” Smiley’s even puts on small festivals, “We’ve done a Latin Festival in October for Hispanic Heritage Month.”

Smiley’s Flea Market is open 5am until 5pm Saturday and Sunday. Rain or Shine. Yard Sale enthusiasts start fairly early. The office opens at 7am. The 30th anniversary party will be July 4th from noon until 4pm.

11thHourOnline.com 11

Ancient Grains & Fresh Juices A n ew, h e a l t h i e r d i n i n g o p t i o n o n M u l b e r r y S t r e e t .

Imagine a restaurant that transports you to an open air café in the Middle East. Where soothing harp music, fresh baked breads, and luscious plants entice your senses. This is the concept behind Harp & Bowl, a new restaurant scheduled to open on Mulberry Street. Body ecology is at the heart of what owner and chef, Charlotte Ethridge, wants to bring to downtown. Healing and organic foods are the name of the game.

“I had cancer,” said Charlotte, “Huge tumors. I could barely move.” She discovered a woman by the name of Donna Gates, the international best-selling author of The Body Ecology Diet: Recovering Your Health and Rebuilding Your Immunity, The Body Ecology Guide to Growing Younger: Anti-Aging Wisdom for Every Generation, and Stevia: Cooking with Nature’s Calorie-Free Sweetener. Gates re-introduced fermented foods to the US and coined the phrase “inner ecosystem” to describe the network of microbes that maintain our basic physiological processes--from digestion to immunity. According to Gates, Body Ecology is a system of healing in response to the major deficiencies in medicine and the commonplace approach to treating symptoms while ignoring root causes.

Charlotte embraced this way of living and studied under Gates and one other teacher in Japan. “They changed my diet and told me about Kefir grains, fermented coconuts and fermented cultured vegetables and how to add these ancient grains back into my diet. I began to juice and detox my body.” Charlotte is now cancer free and has remained healthy for almost 20 years. Her new of way 12 JUNE 26 - JULY 10, 2015

Harp & Bowl is the result of decades of studying The Body Ecology Diet and Middle Eastern cooking.

By Nicole Thurston

living and thinking increased her thirst for more knowledge, and she entered into the culinary school at Helms.

After a trip with some friends to Israel, she fell in love with Middle Eastern food. The combination of the types of food in the Middle Eastern or Mediterranean diet were the same as what was taught in her Body Ecology studies.

Harp & Bowl is the result of decades of studying.

“The Body Ecology diet is mixing ancient grains,” said Charlotte, “We will offer menu items like stuffed red peppers with quinoa, which is the mother of all grains. Or a millet and amaranth corn casserole with shitake mushroom gravy.” According to Charlotte, amaranth is the first known plant food, while the shitake is considered China’s healing mushroom. Charlotte’s goal is to create a healing restaurant, one that not only heals your insides, but is in a soothing environment.

The name, Harp & Bowl, was inspired by her trip to Israel. She visited a café called, “David’s Harp,” where everything was fresh, organic, and served in bowls. This is the same concept she will incorporate in her new restaurant.

The menu will include dishes like – Tabbouleh, falafel, and fresh organic juices made from ginger, apple, and carrots. “We will serve all organic foods. These vegetables will be loaded with enzymes. Most of our veggies will come from Destiny Organic, while our meats will come from White Oak Farms. Some of the other foods, like our ocean fresh vegetables will come from the Dekalb Farmer’s Market.”

Mon - Sat 7-11am Monday - Saturday 11am - 3pm

807 Forsyth Street, Downtown Macon Call for Take Out! 478-621-7044

Tuesday - Saturday Lunch 11:00am - 2:00pm Dinner 5:00pm - 9:30pm DUCK | SEA BASS | LAMB | OYSTERS | VEAL | PRIME NEW YORK STRIP

Fried Chicken Beef Tips & Rice Baked Chicken & Dressing Fried Pork Chop Meatloaf

Collards Mac & Cheese Fried Okra Field Peas Succotash Cabbage Potato Salad Side Salad Cole Slaw Deviled Eggs

Fried Chicken Meatloaf Chicken & Dumplins Baked Ham Country Fried Steak

Mashed Potatoes Collards Okra & Tomatoes Squash Casserole Green Beans Butter Beans Potato Salad Side Salad Cole Slaw Deviled Eggs

Thursday

Fried Chicken Fried Pork Chop Turkey & Dressing Liver & Gizzards Meatloaf

Fried Chicken Fried Catfish Livers & Gizzards Ribs Baked Ham Meatloaf

Mac & Cheese Fried Okra Succotash Collards Field Peas Potato Salad Side Salad Cole Slaw Cabbage Deviled Eggs

Mac & Cheese Fried Okra Green Beans Collards Broccoli Casserole Potato Salad Side Salad Cole Slaw Pinto Beans Deviled Eggs Cheese Grits

Fried Chicken Meatloaf Baked Chicken & Dressing Salmon Croquette Beef Tips & Rice

Meatloaf Fried Chicken Salmon Croquette Ribs Country Fried Steak

Mashed Potatoes Okra & Tomatoes Creamed Corn Squash Casserole Collard Greens Butter Beans Cheese Grits Potato Salad Side Salad Cole Slaw Deviled Eggs

LOBSTER NIGHT 2242 Ingleside Ave

Backburnermacon.com

Reservations are not required but are recommended. 478-746-3336

Mashed Potatoes Squash Casserole Collards Pinto Beans Green Beans Potato Salad Side Salad Cole Slaw Deviled Eggs Cheese Grits Butter Beans

Meat & Bread $3.99 Meat, Bread &1 $5.79 Meat, Bread & 2 $7.69 Meat, Bread & 3 $9.49 Vegetable Plate (3) $6.19 Vegetable Plate (4) $7.99 Founded in 1959 by Inez Hill and Louise Hudson, H&H Restaurant is a Macon institution. Mama Hill and Mama Louise have kept Macon’s most diverse clientele well fed with delicious, stick-to-ya-ribs soul food since Otis Redding was just an unknown band member in Johnny Jenkins’ Pinetoppers.

On one fateful day in the mid-60’s a group a long hairs pooled their money together for two plates. Mama Louise felt sorry for them and gave them all a heaping helping. A friendship between her and The Allman Brothers Band was born. A friendship that took her on quite a ride that included a seat on the tour bus in 1972 and lifelong friendships with Gregg and the rest of the band. In 2007, Mama Hill passed on, but Mama Louise kept on keepin’ on. She calls us every other day, saying “y’all ready yet! I’m ready to go back to work.” To which we reply, “We’re almost there Mama.”

11thHourOnline.com 13

Spark Macon: A M a ke r ’s S p a c e i n d ow n t ow n M a c o n

By Nicole Thurston | Photos Larry Najera

Innovation, Creativity, Experimentation - these are three words that describe what Spark Macon wants to encourage. It came from the idea that the spark of innovation and creativity live very short life cycles if you don’t give them fuel. The space at 557 Cherry Street is just that.

Located just above the Cherry Street Hookah Lounge, in what used to be the old Liz Reed’s, the second floor has about 3,000 square feet of what they are calling “maker space.” 500 of that is specifically for wood working. “It began with the GTA. They had some federal grant money.

They wanted to look at infusing a maker space,” said Rob Betzel, founder and board member of Spark Macon, “Maker spaces start out as a handful of hobbyist and entrepreneurs who say, ‘I want a space.’”

The concept is a fairly new one, with only 30 maker spaces in Georgia, downtown Macon has joined other cities in supporting and encouraging innovation for all ages. It began with five people, “the benevolent dictators,” as they joking call themselves, because according to Betzel, you’ve got to be the right kind of crazy to have the maker spirit. “We have Brent Landford with the Regional Commission, Nadia Osman with College Hill, Michael Rosario with Mercer University’s Engineering 14 JUNE 26 - JULY 10, 2015

Center, and Andrew Eck, a Mercer Student and Owner of Georgia Pallets.”

Andrew was one of their first makers. He had an idea to start a company, but did not have all of the tools or the space to do it. Now, as a member of Spark Macon, he has the space and the support to make his pallet company happen. Luckily for Andrew, the space is located in downtown, not too far from Mercer. Originally, Betzel was looking at starting the space in North Macon, but after some discussion with Alex Morrison with the UDA, he changed his mind. Morrison explained the vision for downtown Macon, and with an active arts community growing and thriving, the Cherry Street location made perfect sense to Betzel.

Spark Macon officially open in November of 2014, with about 50 members. “People kept saying, “If you build it, we will come,” said Betzel.

Originally, the organization was granted $54,000, but this money was only for capital equipment. They had to go out and crowd-fund. While doing so, they were able to raise an additional $11,000 for operational expenses, but according to Betzel, more importantly, they were able to see the interest of the community. Without paid staff,

Members of the SparkMacon board: Back row, L-R: Andrew Eck, Brent Lanford.

Front row, L-R: Micael Rosario, Nadia Osman, Rob Betzel.

Spark Macon is volunteer driven and membership based.

Their goal is to not only increase membership, but retain their current baseline of members. “The cost of our membership is a third less than the other spaces in Georgia,” says Betzel, “ A student can join for $20 a month, while a professional can for $40, and a family is $75.” As Betzel explains it, the membership makes up a huge portion of the cost someone would have to spend in creating their own space and purchasing the equipment and software.

Spark Macon is home to some cutting edge technology,

A makerspace is a place where innovative people gather to collaborate, learn, and build. Tools and equipment are provided for wood and metal working, sound and music recording, a professional grade 3D printer, and much more.

14TH

& 15TH

macon , georg ia everything from: 3D printers, an electronics lab, and a number of computers with Adobe Creative Suite. “A number of people join us just to have access to the software,” said Betzel, “We even have electronics for robotics.”

One of the more exciting aspects of the maker space speaks to the soul of Macon - they have created an area for musicians to record and produce their work.

Outside of just being a member work space, Spark Macon can offer community meeting space, with one very important rule, at least one of the people from that group must be a member, and membership is geared toward a wide variety of people. “One of our three main focuses is on kids. We want to teach children there are different ways to learning.” Betzel mentions an unstructured “failure based” learning, where children are taught that failure is not a terminal condition. “We show a child - You have not tried hard enough until you fail.”

“We want people to know, we welcome anyone who has any kind of creative interest. We want you to come down, then go back to your jobs with new ideas, and in turn, you become a better employee for the community,” said Betzel.

The group is looking for Phase Zero entrepreneurs, folks like Andrew Eck, who have a burgeoning idea, but may not know how to get started. “We want to support them and show them where the tools are and what resources exist. “ According to Betzel, a lot of consulting goes on from the five board members.

“We try to link our engineering talent with our software talent. What we are essentially trying to do is be the physical manifestation of the maker movement.”

Betzel says the space has already seen plenty of success. A local Cos-play group booked up to 300 hours creating costumes for an upcoming event. They were able to use the laser cutter to cut parts needed for it, as well as creating pieces in the wood working shop.

Another project that is ongoing is one where Spark Macon has teamed up with Real Impact, a girl’s group that focuses on STEM and is led by Geneva West. “This is a 12-month program that will focus on 9 distinct skills,” says Betzel, “We will start with software development, then move to 3D Design, costuming, green screen editing, laser engraving, wood working, then finally robotics.” Betzel says in the last three months the girls will decide on a final project, then in May of 2016 at one of the Open Make nights held on First Friday, the girls will present their projects to the community.

Spark Macon is open to the public each First Friday. People are encouraged to come in, take a look, create something in the space, and even present it at the end of the night. Prizes are involved. And according to Betzel, if you are the right kind of crazy, Spark Macon just might be for you.

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makers,

speakers, iNNovative art technology larger-than-life

attractions

Apply Online th Now thru Aug 15 Make-End.com

To learn more about Spark Macon and what a maker space is, visit their Facebook page.

11thHourOnline.com 15

SEEING RED

BY BILL KNOWLES

{ O P- E D}

Editor-In-Chief WeArePolitics.com

Former Mercer Basketball Star Turns Pro - An Interview with TJ Hallice League. TJ was gracious enough to answer a few questions for me before he leaves for Romania in Europe.

Do you mind discussing the terms of your new contract?

Some stuff in my contract includes me a fully furnished apartment and some incentives for me for more cash if we win a championship.

What are you best memories of your years here in Macon? My best memories are just being around my teammates for the past 4 years. The biggest thing I will miss is all my friends that I made throughout my 4 years and the thing I will miss the least is all the schoolwork.

Over the past couple of years, Mercer Athletics has begun to put Macon back on the map in the collegiate sports world across the nation. Mercer’s long dormant football team came roaring out of its’ seven decade hibernation to collect more wins than any other start up team in NCAA history, Mercer baseball standout Billy Burns, now a member of the Oakland A’s, is burning up the American League making circus style grabs in centerfield while being second in the league in stolen bases, and of course who could forget the Mercer Bears men’s basketball team beating national powerhouse Duke in the frenzy of March Madness in 2014? One of the players on that team was recently graduated six-foot ten forward TJ Hallice.

Hallice was born in Indianapolis in 1992 but now calls Weddington, North Carolina home. In high school, TJ was coached by his father Tim who himself was a standout at New England College, where the elder Hallice still holds records in scoring and rebounds. Before coming to Mercer, TJ was recruited by the University of Nevada Las Vegas, arguably one of the largest and most prestigious basketball programs in the country, as well as the Virginia Military Institute, the University of Alabama Birmingham, Western Kentucky, the University of South Carolina and the Citadel. In his Senior year at Mercer, TJ averaged over 9 points per game, over 6 rebounds and 1.3 assists, while finishing his Mercer career with 320 points and 229 rebounds. In his last two seasons at Mercer, Hallice played in every game and was instrumental in scoring in overtime to beat the University of South Carolina Upstate in the Atlantic Sun semi-final win in the 2013-14 season, which led to their ultimate A-Sun championship and subsequent berth into the NCAA tournament.

Last week, Hallice achieved his ultimate dream when he signed a professional basketball contract with the Dinamo Bucuresti of the Romania Liga, a professional team in Bucharest, Romania, which has won 22 league championships in the Romanian 16 JUNE 26 - JULY 10, 2015

What are the strengths in your game that you think will help your new team?

My biggest strength will be my versatility on the offensive and defensive end. I don’t really care about starting, I just want to win.

Several other players from Mercer have gone pro as well as yourself including Daniel Coursey who is in the NBA D-League, Langston Hall played in the Summer League for Orlando and now plays in Italy and Justin Cecil is playing in Germany. It seems that there have been a great many more players that have gone pro since Coach Hoffman has been here. What do you think his strengths are as a coach? Coach Hoffman does a great job teaching little details of the game and he taught us how to be a professional on and off the court. There was a reason why he was voted one of the best coaches in the country. Also, the assistant coaches did a great job developing me. Coach Wright, Coach Esleeck, and Coach Nelp put me through the toughest individuals and taught me the game. I owe a lot to those 4 coaches.

Late in the season, you had a shoulder injury and a subsequent operation on it? Are you recovered 100%? I did have surgery, I am extremely close to 100%. By the time I report in August, it will be a thing in the past. I tried not to think about my shoulder because winning the game was too important to think if my shoulder affected me. Injuries happen and now I am healthy so I am all good.

I know you only got a few minutes in the biggest win in Mercer history against Duke, but what was it like to beat one of the most successful teams in the NCAA? Beating Duke with my brothers will be a memory I will never forget. People still ask me today if I was on the team that beat Duke. But do not be surprised if Mercer does it again this year. The pieces they have could shock the country again. I hope they can do something bigger than us so Mercer can be more than the team that beat Duke.

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11thHourOnline.com 17

THE DISH

Arts + Culture + Entertainment

FRESH. HOT. HEALTHY. Build Your Own Bowl from over 80 delicious fresh ingredients!

3 Courses for 2 $24.99 Includes Garlic Citrus Edamame, 2 Soft Drinks, 2 Regular Bowls & 1 Ice Cream Dessert Expires 9/31/2015. Not valid with any other offer, promotion or discount. Bring in to redeem. One coupon per table, per visit.Valid only at the Macon location.

5437 Bowman Road Suite 100, Macon GA 31210 18 JUNE 26 - JULY 10, 2015

• 478-238-9926

Beach Bar Atmoshphere and some of the best home cooking in Macon at

AP’S HIDDEN HIDEAWAY

Miss Alice almost opened her bar and restaurant in Florida, but when when she heard the train come rumbling by the Broadway Street location, she knew she could create the beach-type atmosphere smack in the middle of Georgia.

And if you’ve yet to drive the six short miles from downtown, you have been missing out on what is truly Macon’s hidden hideaway.

The place exudes beach-bar vibe, complete with dozens of outdoor tables and umbrellas, a large outdoor patio with fans and misters, seashells dangling in the wind. Big Mike strums on the deck every Sunday afternoon and the place was packed with bikers, tourists, regulars and first-timers.

What may be most surprising is the cooking. Miss Alice and staff prepares everything from scratch. They put up their own peas and beans, the plate is garnished with freshly sliced tomatoes and cucumbers, the vegetables are crisp and fresh, and the daily offerings is a long list of seasonal southern favorites and classic meats.

AP’s throws the biggest Fourth of July party we know all weekend long, so take a break from your norm and visit with Miss Alice at AP’s, you’ll be glad you did.

How to

Eat with your head 1 2

6

in

Check out the newest Barberitos location at the Prado Center on Forsyth Road.

Farm Fresh means you’ll never find yesterday’s veggies in today’s burrito.

So, no excuses, eat your veggies.

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Kids 12 and under eat free, Mondays after 3PM when you buy an adult meal for yourself (or even a stranger).

We offer 7 healthy meals with less than 7 grams of fat. We know you don’t care, but you should.

5

We serve locally-sourced, hormone free chicken and pasture-raised beef. Can you say sirloin?

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Yummy Fish Tacos on Fridays.

Everything else,every day of the week. And yes, we cater.

OK, that’s enough for today.

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Macon, Riverside Dr • Macon, Forsyth Rd • Warner Robins, Watson Blvd • Milledgeville, Downtown 11thHourOnline.com 19

Select Bottles e on TUES-SAT in W f o LUNCH & DINNER SUN ednesdays!

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562 Mulberry Street Lane Downtown Macon 742.5999

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BESTOF MACON READERS’ CHOIC E AWARDS

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Macon’s Largest Selection of Imported Beer!

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Weekdays 5-9:30pm Sat 5-10:30pm

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Over 500,000 1/2 off select bottles Combinations! of Six wine on Wednesdays protein options

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496 Second St. Downtown Macon

WINNER Best New Restaurant

Open Mon-Sat 11 am-9:30 pm

20 JUNE 26 - JULY 10, 2015

496 Second St. Downtown Macon

dish the

American / Bar Food 20’s Pub Boasting freshly prepared sandwiches, salads and dinner specials in a well-lit tavern-like setting. LD • BAR • $ 3076 Riverside Dr. AP’s Hidden Hideaway Making homecooked meals like your mamma used tomake.Menu also features burgers, sandwiches, wings and more.

LD • BAR $ 4274 Broadway. Open Tues-Fri 3pm - 2am. Sat and Sunday at noon. Waiter service and outdoor seating available. (478) 781-5656 Bearfoot Tavern Downtown Macon’s only sports tavern with loads of beers on tap, over 50 craft beers (the largest in middle ga!), great food and flat screen tvs at every booth. LD • BAR • $ 401 Cherry Street. Open Monday through Friday at 4:00 p.m and Sat-Sunday at noon.

Locos Grill & Pub Casual, kid-friendly, family dining. We’re talking great food, sports on the big screens and a full bar. Fantastic weekly specials and live music on the weekends. Delivery and catering also available. LD BAR • $ 2440 Riverside Drive.

The Rookery There isn’t a place downtown that has been serving us longer. Two time winner of Best Burger in Macon in the Readers Choice Awards. Sandwiches, fresh salads and house specialties. LD BAR $-$$ 543 Cherry Street, 746-8658 Texas Cattle Company Macon’s original premier steak house and banquet facility. Featuring hand-cut, choice-grain, aged beef, fresh seafood, in-house ground steak burgers and banquet accamadations for groups of 5-50. TCC will buy your dinner on your birthday, simply bring in a valid ID after 4 p.m. Open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner. Prices from $5.99 - $24.99. LD • BAR • $-$$. 5797 Houston Road.

Wild Wing Cafe Newly opened franchise at the Shoppes at River Crossing, fantastic wings in over 30 flavors, over 20 brews on tap, great salads and one of the few dining options in North Macon that offers live music on the weekends.

LD • BAR $-$$, 477.WILD

Mexican Margaritas Four locations serving Macon......

Presidential Pkwy., Zebulon Rd., Bass Rd and Mercer Village....outdoor dining available at Bass and Mercer. 24 draft beers at Mercer Village location. LD • BAR • $

BBQ Fincher’s - You haven’t had delicious southern barbecue until you’ve had us. For over 75 years,

we’ve been teasing taste buds with our pitcooked pork, sandwiches, and more. Voted “Best BBQ” by readers of the 11th Hour for six years in a row, their BBQ even made a trip to the moon on the 1969 space mission. Four locations in Macon and Warner Robins. Family owned and operated!

Lee & Eddie’s - Dine on mouth-watering BBQ, chicken and ribs while exploring the bike shop housed next door. Downtown delivery available.

Open for lunch - (478) 718-5979, 484 Second St.

Pizza / Italian Ingleside Village Pizza IVP is probably the one place in Macon you HAVE to go if you are new here. According to the readers of the 11th Hour, and the Macon Telegraph, it’s the best Pizza in Macon. Homemade dough, loaded with toppings, it just doesn’t get any better. And the atmosphere is as cool as they come. Friendly, and lively, and filled with all kinds of great people, IVP is a one of a kind Macon experience. They also have one of the most extensive beer lists in Macon. LD • BAR $ 2396 Ingleside Avenue.

Sauced at Mercer Village Serving pizza, calzones, sammies and fresh salads, Sauced makes all their dough, specialty sauce and breads inhouse. Delivery available within the College Hill Corridor. (478) 743-4113.

Dovetail Featuring farm to table cuisine and a fully stocked bar of premier bourbons measured by “the finger.” Southern crafted small plates and inspired entrees in a cozy, lodge-like atmosphere. Located above the Rookery, they do accept reservations. LD • BAR • $$-$$$ 543 Cherry Street, 238.4693. Hours: Serving lunch Tues-Sat 11am-2pm. Dinner Tuesdays-Thursdays; 5:30-11 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays Edgar’s Bistro City-chic and a foodie’s dream!

Edgar’s Bistro presents a dining experience that nourishes the body and soul. Open for lunch Monday thru Friday, Edgar’s serves as a handson training facility for the culinary students at Helms College’s Polly Long Denton School of Hospitality. Come dine with them on an array of New American selections of soups, garden-fresh salads, sandwiches and entrees. To view the quarterly menu visit Edgarshospitality.com/menu.

Market City Café – Superb sandwiches, homemade soups, loaded salads, pizza and pastas.

Unique breakfast menu including gourmet coffees and teas. Dinner served Fridays and Saturdays featuring seafood and steak specials.

Full bar, excellent wine cellar. Open Tues-Thur, 7am-6pm; Friday and Saturday 7am-9pm. 502 Cherry St., Macon 257-6612 BLD • BAR • $-$$ Roasted Cafe & Lounge Serving delicious specialty deli-style sandwiches like the Cali Club, The Greek Heat and Roasted Chicken. Also, delicious salads and grown-up PB&Js. Try their famous Date Shake or specialty coffees. Open at 6 a.m. Monday - Friday 442 Second Street, downtown.

Lunch Spots Harpin’s A mid-town lunch favorite, serving chicken salad, pimento cheese, deli sandwiches and fresh salads and daily soup specials. Call ahead for take-out or try their new Take ‘n Go cooler. 3378 Brookdale Ave. (478) 742-5252

The Tic Toc Room Contemporary setting with a sophisticated menu, great wine selection. D • BAR • $$-$$$ 401Cherry Street, 743.4645

Grow is Macon’s only farm to table lunch restauEthnic Cuisine rant, specializing in local meats and produce.

Healthy food with Southern flair. Open Mon-Sat Yabu Sushi + 11-3pm. Check out the facebook page for this Chic upstairs dining on Poplar Street. Serving in the Corridor! week’s menu. Reservations accepted. 743-4663We deliver inventive sushi rolls, nigiri and sashimi. Small plates and salads also available. Great specialty Kudzu Seafood Co. Newly opened on Third cocktail menu, hot teas and full bar available.

Street by veteran caterer Lee Clack, Kudzu 496 Second Street. Tuesday - Thursday 5pm features seafood and breads flown in direct from the Big Easy. With New Orleans flair, their menu 10pm. Friday - Saturday 5pm - 11pm.

(478) 743-4113

KIDS

Ea t Fr e e - O r N e a r l y Fr e e

Mondays Bearfoot Tavern - Kids meals half-price from 4-7 Monday-Friday Barberitos- Kids eat free after 3pm with the purchase of an adult entrée. Dine in Only One per adult entrée -Twelve and Under

Tuesdays Bearfoot Tavern - Kids meals half-price from 4-7 Monday-Friday Moe’s - One Kid 12 and Under eats free with the purchase of any adult meal.

Locos Grill Kids eat free on Tuesdays at Locos Gril and Pub. Purchase of an adult entrée is required.

Wednesdays Georgia Bobs-10 and Under eat free. One per adult and after 5PM Saturday.

e W Lsiicve Old School r muursdays MAIN STREET PIZZA doelwivnetown!

D Th

features po’boys, jambalaya, cajun fish tacos, fresh salads and their own blue cheese slaw.

L 11am - 3 pm • $ • 470 Third Street.

Specialty

Ginger Stir-Fry Located downtown, it’s Macon’s Bearfoot Tavern- Kids only build your own stir fry bar with over 500 meals half price from 4-7 combinations. Cool experience for the kids, not your average dining experience. You want it Monday-Friday spicy, sweet, both? You be the judge, but don’t worry, there are recipe cards as well for the be• Dinner Thur-Fri 5-11 Thursdays ginner.Lunch LD • BARM-F • $-$$11-2:30 496 Second Street.

The Backburner Under new ownership with a new chef, this longtime Macon favorite has a refreshed menu featuring gourmet entrees including duck, sea bass, New York strip, lamb, oysters and more. Elegant dining experience on Ingeside. LD • $$-$$$ (478) 746-3336

The Downtown Grill Slightly upscale dining serving specialties like Andouille- crusted rainbow trout, cranberry and goat cheese stuffed filets and desserts to die for. Also features an extensive wine list and it’s own humidor. Free valet parking. D • BAR • $$-$$$ 562 Mulberry Street, 742.5999

Ghengis Grill A new build-your-own stir-fry restaurant just off Bass Road. There’s only one person in charge at Genghis Grill: You. Seize control and build your own bowl from over 80 delicious, fresh ingredients, then sit back and watch as our Grill Masters cook up your creation in a blaze of perfection. Also featuring a full bar with signature cocktails. LD • BAR • Open 11am - 10 p.m.

Monday thru Sunday.

15%- Kids OFF eat free Barberitos with Your Dog ater 3pm with Lazy the purchase Reciept! of an adult entrée. Dine in Only One per adult entrée $4.92 -Twelve and Under.

Lunch Special

2 Slices and a Drink

344 Second Street (478) 744-9880

SPECIALTY PIES The Blazin’ Buffalo The Olive Oyl (spinach, artichokes, mushrooms, feta) The Pimento (pimento cheese base, fried chicken, bacon) Bangin’ BBQ (chicken, onions, bbq sauce, jalapeno) Papa Do What (Roasted red pepper & smoked gouda base) The Popeye (Ricotta, spinash, mushrooms, prosciutto) The Boomer (mushroom & brie cream base) Caprese Meatball (fresh mozzarella, basil, housemade meatballs)

Mercer Village (478) 743-4113

Serving local vegetables and farm raised meats monday - friday 11am - 3pm

1019 Riverside Dr | 478.743.4663 Check our Facebook page for our weekly menu

11thHourOnline.com 21

THE INTERVIEW Arts + Culture + Entertainment

GIMME HENDRIX

Gimme Hendrix is an Athens, GA based tribute band to one of the greatest groups of all time, the Jimi Hendrix Experience.

Tell me about the first time you picked up a guitar.

The first time I picked up a guitar.. hmmm,my father took me to a music shop and I picked one up and started playing it. I didn’t really like it..haha! Surprisingly I wanted to play bass, but my father suggested I play guitar.

Are you aware that Jimi Hendrix spent some time in Macon and that he learned a lot of his moves from a fellow from here named Johnny Jenkins?

No, I didn’t really think about Hendrix spending time in Macon. I knew he played on the Chitlin Circuit, so it makes sense. I knew he was in Atlanta. I think it was because he was on tour with Little Richard or some big name act on the Circuit. I had no idea he learned moves from Johnny Jenkins .

When did you fall in love with Hendrix? What was the first song of his you heard?

I always liked Hendrix, but I didn’t really dig into the music until I moved out of the house. I also had a friend in high school,senior year, who was really into Hendrix. He showed me what was up.

How did you learn to play the guitar? And what do you think is the most important thing when trying to emulate the master? Initially, I took a few lessons, but my teacher was kinda of a square so I stopped taking lessons.

Instead I would just listen to the radio or listen to what my friends were listening to. I would say when trying to emulating a master, the most important thing is patience and a lot of shadowing/listening.

What can Macon expect from you show?

The hits and b sides. Were out there trying to recreate the vibe and keep the music going.

DON’T MISS GIMME HENDRIX IN CONCERT SATURDAY, JUNE 27 AT THE HUMMINGBIRD.

22 JUNE 26 - JULY 10, 2015

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Open 9-6 Mon thru Sat 11thHourOnline.com 23

24 JUNE 26 - JULY 10, 2015

Arts + Culture + Entertainment R E A D T H E E N T I R E “ T E D DY B E A R ” S E R I E S O N L I N E

TEDDY BEAR PART IV

THE HELL INSIDE ME

P r i s o n P h o t o L e f t t o R i g h t : C h u c k B a m m e n , To n y C o l l u c i o , B r u c e Re g i s t e r, Re n e g a d e , J e r s ey, C h a r l i e Tu l l e r, R oy F l owe r s After I stabbed those two boys, the guards took me to the worst place I’d ever go - a seething, open wound in the middle of the most gruesome prison in the south, The Hole at Reidsville. A dark concrete room with no window, no mattress, no sink. They gave me some clothes with no buttons, a blanket you could read the Bible through, and that was it. I got two meals a week. Hog’s head stew complete with teeth, or some other unidentifiable slop that tasted almost as bad as it looked. Every other day it was bread and water. The guards were awful; they’d offer you a cigarette, and if you took it, they’d charge you with contraband. Once they charged me with silent insubordination, just for the way I looked at them. They weren’t scared to thump your skull either.

I ended up down there for two months and lost 39 pounds. But I’ll tell you something. If you get kicked like a dog and fed like a dog for so long, eventually all you want to do is bite. When they put me back in the general population there was nothing left for me to be afraid of. The way I looked at it, I wasn’t locked up with a bunch of the meanest criminals in the south. They were locked up with me.

That’s not to say that the time got easy.

Nothing at Reidsville was easy. Outside the cellblock was a working farm, and we were the ones that did all the work. They’d haul us out to the fields at daylight in an old cattle truck they called Fireball. Shotgun guards hung out over the top, and two guards stood on the running boards with pistols drawn. If you tried to run, they’d just shoot you right there. And hell, if you did run, all you were gonna hit was the swamp. We picked beans, tomatoes and okra all day long every day.

They’d put us out on a row on a Monday, and we’d still be picking that same row on Friday. Assholes and elbows were all they wanted to see until the sun was setting. And at night, when you came back in, you better

hope you had enough strength to fight.

There weren’t but five guards on our wing of Reidsville, and hundreds of prisoners. So if you got into some shit, help wasn’t coming. I saw men raped, mutilated.

Saw two men killed. One evening there were a couple of guys outside arguing about who could lay bricks better while they worked on rebuilding a retaining wall in the yard. One fella they called Knot was claiming to be the best bricklayer in the whole prison, and the other one, Charlie, wasn’t having it. Charlie picked up a brick and beat Knot to death with it, right there in front of all of us. Everyone saw it. The screws gave us all a chance to get out early if we’d tell them who did it, but none of us would.

Out of the hundred and eighty or so men on that wing, they got nothing. We’d rather all be stuck in there together, rather be the next one dead, than be a rat.

Prison is a depraved place. Everything you want is just out of reach, and all you can do is think about how to get at it. Every hamburger you ever ate, every comfortable bed you ever slept in, every girl you ever screwed – those images just play over and over in your head. Then all of a sudden they stop playing. Then you’re just a prisoner and nothing can hurt you or make you feel alone anymore. This is a bad, bad thing.

There was no chance that I was going to walk out of Reidsville a new man. I don’t know how anyone could. The things I saw there, all the things I experienced there, they only served as an education to me. My last day in prison was spent giving away everything I’d accumulated there to the guys I was leaving behind. I even gave away my shoes. I walked out the gates barefooted and kissed the ground. My pretty little wife was sitting there waiting on me. She looked so good, sweet as an angel. But the hell inside me had only grown, and many would come to know it soon enough.

11thHourOnline.com 25

Macon’s Neighborhood sports bar...

Is Back!

Live Show Review

J. Roddy Walston Saved My Rock ‘N Roll Soul

by Jared Wright / Chris Nylund / Photos Scott Corkery

HAPPY HOUR DAILY 5-8PM: 1/2 price apps $5 Bud Light/Yuengling Pitchers, $2 wells/Dom.

BINGO AT 7PM BEER PONG 10PM

FRI / SAT

DJ - Live Music

MONDAYS

$1 Wells Beer Pong 10

TUESDAYS Poker at 7 Trivia at 9

WEDNESDAYS Everythings $3!

THURSDAY

Karaoke $100 cash prize!

Fridays

Ladies’ Night $3 Margaritas $2 WElls

3986 Northside Dr, Macon

UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP!

26 JUNE 26 - JULY 10, 2015

Live in Macon long enough, and you’ll inevitably hear someone mutter some version of the phrase, “ya know… the city has more churches per capita than anywhere else in the [South/country/world/ charted universe]...” I’ve never bothered to research the validity of the statement, but it at least seems truth-y enough – there are a lot of churches around, and a lot of folks seem to go whether they enjoy it or not. Personally, I tend to avoid them all, preferring instead to sit on my couch on Sunday mornings with a cup of coffee listening to the type of old gospel records that would make most Contemporary Christian praise bands uncomfortably squirm in their seats and think about returning their digital delay pedals to Guitar Center – music that’s more empyrean shouting match than somber sales pitch, more punch-in-the-neck intervention than hand-in-the-pocket swindle (recent favorites: Tompkins Square’s collection of singles from four decades of the Nashboro label, side 2B of the Anthology of American Folk Music, and the mysterious and far too few recordings of the Middle Georgia Singing Convention No. 1). But a few Sundays ago (June 14th, to be exact), I went to church. The name of the church was the Capitol Theatre, and my savior was J. Roddy Walston.

Drawing heavily from their current release, Essential Tremors, the band flew through tunes that packed the wallop of a barroom haymaker fueled by whiskey and bad decisions. While the band occasionally employs a two guitar attack, these guys are at their best when Walston is a gyrating mass of hair punishing his piano at center stage, wailing into the microphone like some bastard son of Jerry Lee Lewis raised on fried bologna sandwiches and Motorhead. Walston spent the show

locked in a boxing match with his piano, beating it like he was afraid it might get up and do the same to him if given half a measure’s chance. After realizing that they were in the land of Little Richard, the band even knocked the cobwebs off a cover of “Lucille,” turning it inside out and ripping it to shreds. Good golly. All of this is not to say these guys aren’t capable of taking it down a notch (or ten), proving as such with a stripped down version of “Boys Can Never Tell” that brought the house down in a completely different way.

By most accounts, rock ’n’ roll is dead, and it has been for some time. If it’s not dead, then it’s been hit by a bus and left to convalesce in the intensive care ward in some dreary hospital too far away for friends to come visit. Save for a few slight blips on the lifeline, this generation’s collection of tight pants-ed laptop jockeys copping lines from Rainer Maria Rilke to put on top of Dramamine-laced disco beats wouldn’t know rock ’n’ roll if it kicked them squarely in the nuts and shoved their faces in the mud. Feelings, man… J. Roddy Walston and his band, the Business, are on a mission (from God?) to change all that, giving the genre a much-needed shot in the arm (careful not to break the needle).

At one point in the set, Walston mentioned that the crowd in Macon wasn’t the largest, but it was certainly one of the most enthusiastic of the tour. Those of us that made it to “church” on June 14th sang along without the aid of a hymnal, clutching to the delicious bits of rock ‘n’ roll salvation emanating from the speakers at the Capitol in an effort to momentarily forget the looming work week and the toils that inevitably accompany it. If you were there, you get it. If you weren’t, you should fix that the next time these boys come to town. Your eternal soul may depend on it.

d

,

Home of the Chiropractic Mattress Center

Crosby’s

THIS THIS THIS ISISIS

Furniture & Mattress Center

REVITALIZING REVITALIZING DOWNTOWN DOWNTOW REVITALIZING DOWN

Proud to sell American-made Furniture & Mattresses

In 2012, NewTown launched a loft loan fund program to provide gap financing to spur development and to reach the market absorption rate of 150 new lofts per year. NewTown Macon has raised private funds to run the program, while Macon-Bibb’s credit helped reduce the cost of the loans to make the program viable for investors. This loan program is a perfect example of using each sector’s strengths to deliver massive public benefit.

Furnish your home!

From comfortable couches and recliners to classic dining tables, beds, and office furniture – it's all here! Need design advice? Our staff is happy to assist you.

NewTown Macon has invested $5 million in eight projects downtown, with a total value of $26.1 million. These eight projects have converted over 250,000 square feet of abandoned space to 182 lofts and 17 commercial units. The completed lofts are 99% occupied and have attracted over 230 residents to downtown Macon, over half of whom are new to Bibb County.

The last funded project in the 2012 Loft Development Loan Fund is the Lofts at Silver, 450 Third Street. Once the building’s rehabilitation is complete, the project will add 24 lofts and one retail space. The project is expected to be completed by May 2016.

Get a good night's sleep!

Does tossing and turning keep you from getting a good sleep each night? Check out our Springwall Chiropractic Mattresses. The sleep sets are specially designed to correct posture misalignment and reduce pressure.

Friday Social Club Car Show

Cruise to downtown Macon for the First Friday Car Show sponsored by Robins Federal Credit Union. We’ll have muscle cars,

STOP BY OUR STORE SHOWROOM

Come see our Grandma!

1871 Watson Blvd Warner Robins, GA 31093

classics, exotic cars and more at Cherry Street Plaza, 301 Cherry Street, from 6:00-8:00p. If you are interested in bringing your car, please contact David Moore at 478-722-9909.

478-328-9985

newtownmacon.com 11thHourOnline.com 27

28 JUNE 26 - JULY 10, 2015

BOOK SIGNING & RECEPTION

JULY 11 - GALLERY WEST 6-8:30 p.m. 447 Third Street, Downtown Macon

With Author John Charles Griffin Featuring Refreshments and Live Music with Special Guests

After The Meltdown - Photographs, Narrative & Lyrical Poetry Style of Content : Southern Dirt Road Visionary Publisher: Snake Nation Press - Valdosta, Georgia John Charles Griffin is a poet, photographer, musician, a 1984 graduate of Valdosta State University with a B.A. in English Literature. Griffin is a Macon, Georgia native and serves on The Board of Trustees with The Allman Brothers Band Museum at The Big House. He is a U.S. Navy Veteran having served with U.S. Middle East Forces in the Persian Gulf. His poems have appeared in anthologies SHADES AND SHADOWS, SILVER VALLEY VOICE, and VELVET CRESCENDO. Griffin has performed spoken word in Atlanta's Callanwolde Fine Arts Center, Decatur's Java Monkey Coffee House, Macon’s Sidney Lanier Cottage and Golden Bough Bookstore. His photographs have appeared in Macon Magazine, Georgia Music Magazine, Eleventh Hour, Gritz Magazine, and Kudzu Online. Born in Hahira, Georgia, Griffin spent his early years living and working on a family farm where the way of life included hard work, tending crops, a rural route book mobile, moon pies & cracker jacks from a grocery truck.

"John Griffin strikes me as a collard-fed, gourd-painting, harp-blowing beatnik who manages to be both courtly and subversive at the same time."

- - Candice Dyer

BUY THE BOOK Cover Art: Flournoy Holmes Author Photo Credit: Kirk West

Snakenationpress.org

OVER

PERSONAL

50 CRAFT

24”

FLAT SCREENS.

BEERS

the largest selection in middle georgia!

TRIVIA

TUES, 8PM Prizes all night!

happy hour Mon-Fri 4-7pm: $2 16oz Bud Lt draft & $2 wells

taco tuesdays

2 for 1 Tacos

wednesdays 39¢ Wings Wii Bowling 9pm

here watch 401 Cherry Street Downtown Macon - 478-743-4645

Become a fan for weekly events and specials!

11thHourOnline.com 29

Back Porch Lounge

CHRIS HICKS & FRIENDS!

2400 Riverside Dr • 745-8801 21+ Located Inside the Best Western

HAPPY

HOUR

PBR

All day Everyda

SUNDAYS!

Middle GA’s favorite place f Karaoke with Man in the Bo

NEVER A COVER!

MON

$2 PBRs

THRU

All day, Everyday!

FRI TIL

THUR-FRI-SUN

Karaoke

7PM

EVERY

SATURDAY

Live Music

4th of July Party all Weekend!

SUNDAYS

LIVE MUSIC

Karaoke w/ Chris Allen 2-4-1 Drinks all Night!

Beer Specials!

Sundays on the deck: Big Mike at 3pm

TEXAS HOLD ‘EM Tuesday / Wednesday / Thursday 7pm - until

July 4: ON THE DECK Mama T 5:30-9:30 p.m.

Yesterdaze Rock at 9!

July 11: Yesterdaze Rock July 18: Kool Change

3076 Riverside Dr. Suite 1200 Macon. • Tel 475-5860

PUB

Tues-Fri 3pm-until, Sat-Sun 12-until

Sports Bar & Fine Foods

4274 Broadway, Macon • 781-5656

3076 RIVERSIDE DR. SUITE 1200 MACON • 478/475-5860

Happy Hour daily til 7pm!

Downtown Macon’s social bar Relax with friends in conversation while enjoying your favorite beverage and food in one of our four separate seating areas

New lunch specials Monday - Friday! mon

tues

trivia 7-9pm

thurs

KARAOKE 8PM

DRINK SPECIALS 9PM-CL: $1 DRAFTS /$2 WELLS

Karaoke 8pm

wed

eat.

KARAOKE CONTEST 8P!

Play pool, darts, chess, various board games, redemption games, or watch your favorite program on one of our many flat screen TVs.

sat

KARAOKE 8PM dart tourney 4pm $11 beer buckets

sunday

$500 1ST PRIZE!

drink.

NIGHTLY 7-CL

Sun: Service Industry $2 Wells & Domestics

Texas Hold ‘Em 5pm Lunch specials!

fridays

play.

7/3: Karoake with Pat Kennedy 7/10: B Keith Williams 7/17: Big Daddy & Co.

Wed: Ladies - 2 for 1 Everything; Gentlemen: Tie-One-On 2 for 1 if you’re wearing a tie!

EVERYDAY

Happy Hour

2-7pm - $2 domestics, $3 wells $2 PBR and High Life all day! Shot Specials!

Texas Hold ‘Em Nightly, 9pm

live music

30 JUNE 26 - JULY 10, 2015

Sidewalk, inside cocktail area, coppertop bar, or courtyard.

FREE PLAY TOURNAMENTS MON & WED 8pm. Awards to top 3 players, all entered in drawing for prizes

430 MLK JR BLVD • 478-254-2460

relax.

Designated drivers welcomed (19 and up)

Corner of Cherry St & MLK 21 and up - Dress code enforced Mon - Sat 2pm-2am, Sunday 6pm-12am

GO HEAR - LIVE MUSIC Playing the Bird on Thursday, July 2.

Friday 6/26 Uncle Earl & Friends 20’S PUB Chris Bartlett Band BILLY’S CLUBHOUSE McKenzie’s Mill THE CRAZY BULL A Southern-fried rock ‘n roll duo out of Nashville, McKenzies Mill was selected as a 2014 “Who New to Watch” Artist by the CMA’s. Their new single “Just Kickin’ It” it receiving plenty of air time, and these guys are on their way to country music stardom.

See them tonight so you can say...

“I saw those guys at the Crazy Bull!”

Universal Sigh THE HUMMINGBIRD Formed in the fall of 2012, Universal Sigh is a unique band comprised of Steve Terry, Austin Parker, and brothers Pace & Jones Maynard. They have found a niche in the vibrant music scene of Athens, GA by establishing a close-knit community of friends and fellow musicians. Fearless of exploring uncharted musical territories, their music can be loosely defined as “progressive jazz-funk”.

Ladie’s Night with DJB3 THE TRACTOR ROOM @ TWANG Big Daddy & Co. WILD WING

Saturday 6/27 Yesterdaze Rock AP’S HIDDEN HIDEAWAY Yester Daze Rock Band is made up of musicians from all musical styles and backgrounds, working closely to create a unique sound by adding their signature to the classics that they play. The musical format is comprised mainly of classic rock tunes with some blues and jazz influences mixed in along with a twist of country added for variety!

Matt Moncrief BILLY’S CLUBHOUSE Holman Autry Band THE CRAZY BULL James Radford Band TRACTOR ROOM @ TWANG

Gimme Hendrix THE HUMMINGBIRD Gimme Hendrix is committed to recreating the full experience of one of the most influential guitarists of all time, Mr. Jimi Hendrix.

Rest assured, there is no tribute act that pays this legendary artist better justice than Gimme Hendrix!

Village Idiots WILD WING

Tuesday 6/30 Torri Broxton’s Macon’s Finest Showcase at TWANG Daniel Walker Open Mic THE HUMMINGBIRD

Wednesday 7/1 Daniel Walker BILLY’S CLUBHOUSE

Thursday 7/2 Little Tybee THE HUMMINGBIRD Their third record, “For Distant Viewing” is finally finished, and the same exuberance it captures is palpable tonight, onstage in Atlanta. A band in full command now of a sound that amalgamates jazz-like virtuosity, symphonic scope, and hook-laden folk into something focussed and distinctly original. A band that, after four years together, seems to have achieved that rare level of cohesion so as to make each member seem equally imperative to, and inseparable from, the music they create.

Travis Bryant WILD WING

Friday 7/3 Karaoke w/Pat Kennedy 20’S PUB Yesterdaze Rock BILLY’S CLUBHOUSE Matt Rogers Band THE CRAZY BULL As a singer and a songwriter, Matt’s original music is rich with emotion and struggle. As a cover musician, he brings a unique texture to songs and presents them in a different way—without disturbing the integrity of the original version.

Today, Matt is performing all across the south. He has recorded a five-song demo EP and has just released two new singles. Produced by industry giants Dino Pastin and JoAnn Berry, “I Was Raised” and “Please Come to Boston” have already created waves of enthusiasm with music executives in Nashville.

He is currently working on a new project expected to be released later this fall.

Five40 Band THE HUMMINGBIRD Trey Teem Band WILD WING

Saturday 7/4 Karaoke w/Pat Kennedy 20’S PUB Mama T on the deck 5:30-9:30 Yesterdaze Rock - inside 9pm AP’S HIDDEN HIDEAWAY Don’t miss AP’s annual Fourth of July Extravaganza! Drink specials, home cooking and barbecue and a full size swimming pool to dive into when you just need to cool 11thHourOnline.com 31

32 JUNE 26 - JULY 10, 2015

GO HEAR - LIVE MUSIC 430 Cherry Street | macon 741-9130 | OPEN DAILY 4PM

our H y p Hap

2-4-1 wells 4-8PM

down. One of our favorite places just a few minutes from downtown, check out AP’s this weekend, you won’t regret it. Live music all day both outside on their huge back patio, and inside on the main stage starting at 9 p.m.

Movers & Shakers BILLY’S CLUBHOUSE 8 Second Ride THE CRAZY BULL Marcus King Band THE HUMMINGBIRD Call him the next Duane Allman or Jimi Hendrix, but whatever you do, don’t call Marcus King a child prodigy. Sure, the 18-year-old guitar shredder’s talent shimmers with the same resonance as his heroes, but he’s been wielding an axe since he learned to talk – he started playing when he was 2.

Marcus was born into music, gifted with steel-string DNA and two generations of men before him who nurtured the boy’s musical nature. Marcus’s dad, the slyly talented Marvin King, has been a force in Upstate South Carolina’s music heritage for as long as anyone can remember.

Marvin’s father and Marcus’s granddad, Bill, played a big part, too. The result is a fusion of wildly eclectic genres, offering a live experience as mesmerizing as it is dance-inducing.

Matt Pippin Band WILD WING

Wednesday 7/8 Bike Night w/Uncle Earl THE TRACTOR ROOM @ TWANG Matt Moncrief Hosts Open Mic BILLY’S CLUBHOUSE

Thursday 7/9 Scott Little WILD WING CAFE The Well Reds THE HUMMINGBIRD Sophisticated and honest, alternative pop rock quartet The Well Reds are quickly gaining recognition as an Atlanta-based band to watch. Made up of Jeremy Ezell

(lead vocals, guitar, keys), Torin Degnats (drums), and brothers Sean (vocals, guitars, keys) and Rex Crawford (bass), these well-dressed southern boys boast a sound reminiscent of Maroon 5, OneRepublic, Head Automatica, and Augustana. Known for their infectious melodies and polished live performances, The Well Reds engage a large and diverse audience while letting their natural and authentic chemistry shine on stage. Opening for reputable touring acts such as Daughtry, Hot Chelle Rae, Parachute, and Minus The Bear, the band has already received national exposure and admiration for their full on heart pounding rock show.

Friday 7/10 B. Keith Williams 20’S PUB Matt Pippin Duo BILLY’S CLUBHOUSE Gannon Adams THE CRAZY BULL In April of 2012, Gannon fulfilled a life long dream when he opened a show for his hero, the legendary Merle Haggard, at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.

Gannon was originally scheduled to open a show for Merle in Macon in January 2012. The show was cancelled at the last minute when Merle was hospitalized for pneumonia. He made a full recovery and invited Gannon to open his shows in Nashville and the Make up show in Macon, Ga. Gannon’s debut album “Breakin’ Me Down” is available now.

Thomas Wynn & the Believers THE HUMMINGBIRD Ladie’s Night with DJB3 THE TRACTOR ROOM @ TWANG Loose Skrews WILD WING

Saturday 7/11 Yesterdaze Rock AP’S HIDDEN HIDEAWAY Boothill BILLY’S CLUBHOUSE Michael Stacey THE CRAZY BULL

Grassland String Band THE HUMMINGBIRD Scott Brantley WILD WING

Tuesday 7/14 Torri Broxton’s Macon’s Finest Showcase at TWANG The Captain Danny Davis hosts Open Mic THE HUMMINGBIRD

Wednesday 7/15 Daniel Walker BILLY’S CLUBHOUSE

Thursday 7/16 Treehouse THE HUMMINGBIRD Wes & Ronnie WILD WING

Friday 7/17 Big Daddy & Co. 20’S PUB Trey Teem Band BILLY’S CLUBHOUSE Larry Frick THE CRAZY BULL Larry Frick is a singer, songwriter, and entertainer from Louisburg, North Carolina, who has a voice steeped in the rich traditions of country music - the traditions that weave stories and emotions into the very fabric of the songs he sings. Larry has played all over the country at bars, clubs, festivals, fairs, grand openings and parties and has also been a part of major events including BamaJam 2010 and the CMA Fest New Faces Show at the Wildhorse Saloon in Nashville.

Incredibly Tall People THE HUMMINGBIRD Boothill WILD WING

league MON dart $1 Wells all Day! TUES All day Happy Hour Trivia 7-9pm WED Team 2-4-1 Drinks THUR Margarita Night

THUR. JULY 2

Little Tybee FRI. JULY 3

FIVE40 BAND SAT. JULY 4

Marcus King Band THUR. JULY 9

The Well Reds FRI. JULY 10

Thomas Wynn & the Believers SAT. JULY 11

Grassland String Band THUR. JULY 16

treehouse FOR A COMPLETE SCHEDULE VISIT HUMMINGBIRDMACON.COM 11thHourOnline.com 33

34 JUNE 26 - JULY 10, 2015

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