Atlanta Senior Life - November 2019

By Joe Earle

When Charles Dickens’ released his short novel “A Christmas Carol, in Prose: Being a Ghost Story of Christmas” in December 1843, it was an immediate hit. The first edition sold out by Christmas Eve of that year and new editions continued to sell out during the next year.

Within just a couple of months of the book’s release, at least eight theatrical versions of the story were being staged, according to theguardian.com. And that was just the beginning of “A Christmas Carol’s” success. In the 176 years since Dickens’ wrote it, the story of Scrooge and his ghosts has never really gone away.

Certainly not in metro Atlanta, where “A Christmas Carol” has become a holiday staple in local theaters, as much a fixture of the season as turkey and stuffing.

Come the holidays, it seems that Dickens’ haunting tale pops up everywhere. The Alliance Theatre in Midtown Atlanta is staging its 30th annual vision of the show this year—eight different actors have played Scrooge at the Alliance through the years— and at least six other companies scattered from Cumming to Woodstock also plan to mount their own versions of the Scrooge story.

The plays vary widely in

The Long and LivesMany of A Christmas Carol

presentation. The Alliance’s supersized production includes 23 actors and a giant puppet. Aurora Theatre’s version is a one-man show. Some companies include bits of music, others based much of their appeal on the show’s tunes. One Alpharetta troupe plans a comic takeoff built around a troubled staging of the play.

What accounts for the continuing success of “A Christmas Carol” in its many forms? “People just love the story, the story of redemption and hope,” said Kathleen Covington, the Alliance’s brand content strategist.

Rosemary Newcott has directed the Alliance’s version of “A Christmas Carol” 17 times. She acted in it 11 times before that, taking at one time or another just about every female role, from Bob Cratchit’s wife to the Ghost of Christmas Past. “It’s been a great ride,” she said.

She’s directing again this year as the Alliance returns the show to at its home theater on Peachtree Street after a couple of years at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre while the Midtown space was being renovated. This year marks the 20th staging of this particular version of the tale, which was adapted by David H. Bell. What keeps her coming back? “I thoroughly love the story,” Newcott said.

Theatergoers tell her they come back to see the show year after year. Some make it one of their family holiday traditions. “A Christmas Carol’s” appeal crosses generations, she said, by combining ghosts, Scrooge’s redemption and Dickens’ outrage at the conditions facing the poor in Victorian England. “It deals with everybody’s needs,” she said. And it draws a crowd. At the Shakespeare Tavern, artistic director and president Jeff Watkins said the play is regularly the theater’s biggest ticket-seller of the year. It’s also usually one of the biggest box-office draws each year at the Alliance, Covington said. Watkins’ theater has been staging “A Christmas Carol” for 20 years, according to its website. Watkins says some fans come only to the Shakespeare Tavern to see its Dickens’ show. “It sells so well because people love it so much,” he said.

Of course, some theater fans may have seen all of the “Christmas Carols” they want. After all, in addition to local theaters and bookstores, the

Right, The Ghost of Christmas Present (played by character Elyot Crummels, portrayed by actor Jeremy Choate) confronts Scrooge (Keith Bates) in ACT 1 Theater’s 2017 production of “Dickens’ Christmas Carol: A Traveling Travesty in Two Tumultuous Acts.

Above, Kevin Bates as Scrooge. Photos by Mike Glatzer.

story shows up in movies and repeatedly on television during the holidays.

That’s where ACT 1 Theater in Alpharetta comes in. This year, the troupe is offering a little comic relief by staging “Dickens’ Christmas Carol: A Traveling Travesty in Two Tumultuous Acts.” It’s a play-within-a-play about a traveling theater troupe performing “A Christmas Carol” one last time after doing it over and over for 15 years. When the Styckes-Upon-Thump Repertory Theatre Company takes the stage for this show, “mayhem ensues,” ACT 1 managing director Melody Cookson said.

“It’s a story about ‘A Christmas Carol,’” she said, “and not just ‘A Christmas Carol.’” Of course, ACT 1 has staged its own version of “A Christmas Carol” in past years. It seems there’s always room for another version of the story on another stage.

Even after all the “Christmas Carols” she’s done, Newcott says she still enjoys staging the story. “It is so beautifully crafted,” she said. “Dickens did quite a job on it.”

A variety of metro area theaters are staging shows based on Charles Dickens’ novella “A Christmas Carol.”

“Dickens’ Christmas Carol: A Traveling Travesty in Two Tumultuous Acts

ACT 1 Theater, 180 Academy Street, Alpharetta 30009

Runs Dec. 6-22. Tickets: $17-$20; 770-663-8989, act1theater.com.

A Christmas Carol

Alliance Theatre, The Woodruff Arts Center, 1280 Peachtree Street, Atlanta 30309

Runs Nov. 16-Dec. 24. Tickets: $17.50-$85; 404-733-5000; alliancetheatre.org.

Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol

Aurora Theatre, 128 Pike Street, Lawrenceville 30046

Runs Dec. 7-22. Tickets: $30; 678-226-6222, auroratheatre.com.

A Christmas Carol

Elm Street Cultural Arts Village, 8534 Main Street, Woodstock 30188

Runs Dec. 13-24. Tickets: $15 online, $18 at the door; 678-494-4251, elmstreetarts.org.

Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol

Kudzu Playhouse, Bulloch Hall, 180 Bulloch Avenue, Roswell 30075

Runs Dec. 6-23. Tickets: $20; 770-992-1731, bullochhall.org.

Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol

The Shakespeare Tavern Playhouse, 499 Peachtree Street, Atlanta 30308

Runs Dec. 6-Dec.23. Preview performance Dec. 5. Tickets: $22-$42 ($15 for preview performance); 404-874-5299, shakespearetavern.com.

A Christmas Carol

Tam’s School Street Playhouse, 101 School Street, Cumming 30040

Runs Nov. 29-Dec. 15. Tickets: $27.50-$30; 770-781-9178, schoolstreetplayhouse. com.

A Christmas Carol

Theatre Buford, Buford Community Center, 2200 Buford Highway, Buford 30518

Runs Dec. 6-22. Tickets: $30-$35; 770-904-2740, bufordcommunitycenter.com.

Manny Magnus and David de Vries in the Alliance Theatre’s 2018/19 production of A Christmas Carol. Photo by Greg Mooney.

Other metro theaters are staging other holiday shows. They include:

Christmas Canteen 2019 Aurora Theatre, 128 Pike Street, Lawrenceville 30046

Runs Nov. 14-Dec. 23. Tickets: from $20 for discount matinees, starting at $30 for evening and weekend afternoon performances; 678-226-6222, auroratheatre.com.

Austin Avenue, Atlanta 30307

Runs Dec. 7-31. Tickets: $12 youth, $15 adults; 404-523-1477, horizontheatre.com.

Waffle Palace Christmas

Horizon Theatre, 1083 Austin Avenue, Atlanta 30307

Runs Nov. 22-Dec. 29. Tickets: $30 Wednesdays to Fridays, $35 on weekends; 404-523-1477, horizontheatre.com.

Frosty! A Very Merry Musical! Marietta’s New Theater in the Square, 11 Whitlock Avenue, Marietta 30060

Runs Dec. 5-29. Tickets: $22.50$35; 770-426-4800, theatreinthesquare. net.

The Gift of the Magi 2.0 Marietta’s New Theater in the Square, 11 Whitlock Avenue, Marietta 30060

Holiday Event Planner

By Kathy Dean

The holidays are always busy with preparing for visitors and shopping for gifts. It’s also magical,

with lights, music and shows that bring up old memories while creating new ones. Here are some of the many special things that are happening locally this season.

Thanksgiving Meals and More

There are many ways to celebrate Thanksgiving. Of course, there’s the traditional family get-together, but you want to try mingling with friends, getting active or supporting a worthy cause at a local community center.

Sunday Suppers with Chef

Howard: Thanksgiving Sides

holiday. Cost is $90. The Cook’s Warehouse Midtown at Ansley Mall, 1544 Piedmont Avenue, Suite 403-R, Atlanta 30324. Register and learn about more Atlanta Community Food Bank events and volunteer opportunities at acfb.org.

Thanksgiving Potluck

Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer Center for Puppetry Arts, 1404 Spring Street, Atlanta 30309

Runs Nov. 5-Dec. 29. Tickets: $15-$35 ($9-$22.50 for members); 404-873-3391, puppet.org.

Holiday Inn

City Springs Theatre Company, City Springs Performing Arts Center, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs 30328

Runs Dec. 13-22. Tickets: $30-$65; 706-206-2022, citysprings.com.

Black Nativity

Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center, 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway, Atlanta 30339

Runs Dec. 13-15. Tickets: $36-$66, plus applicable fees; 770-9162800, cobbenergycentre.com.

A Tuna Christmas Georgia Ensemble Theatre Conant Performing Arts Center, Oglethorpe University, 4484 Peachtree Road, Brookhaven 30319

Runs Dec. 13-29. Tickets: $35; 770641-1260, get.org.

Madeline’s Christmas Horizon Theatre Company, 1083

Runs Nov. 15-24. Tickets: $20-$30. 770-426-4800, theatreinthesquare.net.

A Christmas Story Newnan Theatre Company, 24 First Avenue, Newnan 30263

Runs Dec. 5-8, 12-15, 19-22. Tickets: $10-$20; 770-683-6282, newnantheatre.org.

A Nice Family Gathering Stage Door Players, 5339 Chamblee-Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody 30338

Runs Nov. 22-Dec. 8. Tickets: $16 (younger than 12) -$34 (adult); 770-396-1726, stagedoorplayers. net.

A Christmas Memory

Theatrical Outfit, 84 Luckie Street, Atlanta 30303 Dec. 23. Tickets: $15-$45; 678-5281500, theatricaloutfit.org.

The Wickhams: Christmas At Pemberley

Theatrical Outfit, 84 Luckie Street, Atlanta 30303

Runs Nov. 27-Dec. 29. Tickets: $15-$45; 678-528-1500, theatricaloutfit.org.

Sunday, Nov. 10, 4-6 p.m. Learn to make tasty side dishes at Marcus Jacob Community Center of Atlanta (MJCCA) and then enjoy eating them in a family-style setting. Community welcome, $25; members, $20. MJCCA at Zaban Park, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody 30338; Howard Schreiber, 678-812-3993, howard.schreiber@atlantajcc. org.

Thanksgiving Meet & Eat

Tuesday, Nov. 12, 12-2 p.m. The traditional Thanksgiving celebration for all ages includes music, entertainment and a catered meal. It’s also a fundraiser for the senior center. Cost is $15 for residents, $18 for non-residents. C. Freeman Poole Senior Center, Magnolia Hall, 4025 Hurt Road, Smyrna 30082; 770-801-3400, cobbcounty.org.

Thanksgiving Dinner with Nathalie Dupree, Cynthia Graubart and Virginia Willis

Monday, Nov. 18, 6:30-9 p.m. Three dames of Southern cooking will share recipes, tips and techniques for a successful

Tuesday, Nov. 19, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Bring a favorite side dish to share; turkey, dessert and drinks are provided. Sign up at the front desk. For ages 55 and up; free for residents, $1 for non-residents. North Cobb Senior Center, Movie Room, 3900 Main Street, Acworth 30101; 770-975-7740, cobbcounty.org.

Pre-Thanksgiving Pie Party

Wednesday, Nov. 20, 1-2 p.m. Treat yourself to dessert and hot coffee before turkey. Choose from a variety of traditional holiday pies at the pie bar. For ages 55 and up; $5 for residents, $7 for non-residents. Senior Wellness Center, Dinner Theater, 1150 Powder Springs Street, Marietta 30064; 770-5285355, cobbcounty.org.

Thanksgiving Day Gobble Jog

Thursday, Nov. 28, 6:30 a.m. The fundraiser includes a 10K run, 5K and 1K run/walks and a Tot Trot at Marietta Square. It supports MUST Ministries, an organization that provides food, clothing, shelter and more for people in northwest metro Atlanta; gobblejog.org.

Lights & Festivals

Macy’s Pink Pig Runs Nov. 2-Jan. 5, 2020. For more than 60 years, riding the Macy’s Pink Pig has been a beloved Atlanta holiday tradition. Macy’s Lenox Square Mall, 3393 Peachtree Road, Atlanta 30326. Call Macy’s Pink Pig Ride at 404-231-2796 or 404-231-2959.

Garden Lights, Holiday Nights Runs Nov. 16-Jan. 11, 2020. Visit Atlanta Botanical Garden during its annual electrical extravaganza, open every night, even on holidays. Atlanta Botanical Garden, 1345 Piedmont Avenue, Atlanta 30309; atlantabg.org.

Santa Arrives by Train & Festival of Trees

Saturday, Nov. 16, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. There’s refreshment and entertainment before Santa arrives at 1 p.m. The Festival of Trees runs Nov. 16 through Jan. 4, 2020. Southeastern Railway Museum, 3595 Buford Highway, Duluth 30096; train-museum.org.

Winter Wonderland:

Celebrations & Traditions

Around the World Runs Nov. 22-Jan. 12, 2020. The annual holiday exhibition features trees and displays that recognize Chanukah, Christmas and other celebrations. Fernbank, 767 Clifton Road, Atlanta 30307; fernbankmuseum.org.

Light Up Dunwoody

Sunday, Nov. 24. The Christmas Village opens at 3 p.m. for visits Santa, shopping for holiday treasures and refreshments. At 5:45 p.m., there’ll be a lighting of

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the tree and menorah. CheekSpruill Farmhouse, 5455 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody 30338; discoverdunwoody.com.

Christmas at Callanwolde Runs Nov. 29-Dec. 8. Visitors can tour the Designer Show House and attend other special events, including Breakfast with Santa, teas and a holiday gala. Callanwolde Fine Arts Center, 980 Briarcliff Road, Atlanta 30306; callanwolde.org.

Christmas Traditions

Saturday, Nov. 30, 9 a.m. Family fun includes visits with Santa, Christmas crafts, hot chocolate

and holiday sweets as well as two showings of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer at 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. Cost is $5. Buford Community Center, 2200 Buford Highway, Buford 30518; bufordcommunitycenter.com.

Santa on the Square in Decatur

Saturday, Nov. 30, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Santa arrives on a fire truck, shares milk and cookies and poses for photos. City of Decatur Plaza, 101 East Court Square, Decatur 30030; decaturdba.com.

Coming Home for the Holidays

Tuesday, Dec. 3, 5-8 p.m. An evening of music and holiday activities ends with a parade and tree lighting by Santa. Smyrna Community Center, 200 Village Green Circle, Smyrna 30080; travelcobb.org.

Light Up Brookhaven

Wednesday, Dec. 4, 6:30-9 p.m. A lighted Christmas tree and Hanukkah display are the highlights, but there are also Santa visits, crafts, cartoons, music and food trucks. Blackburn Park, 3494 Ashford Dunwoody Road, Brookhaven 30319; brookhavenga.gov.

◄Marietta Square Winter Wonderland Thursday, Dec. 5, 4 p.m.

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The evening starts with music and the arrival of Santa; the tree is lit up at 6 p.m., followed by the start of the Festival of Trees. Glover Park, 50 North Park Square, Marietta 30060; winterwonderlandmarietta.com.

Decatur Tree Lighting

Thursday, Dec. 5, 6 p.m. There’ll be hot cocoa, caroling and “snow” before Santa flips the switch at 7 p.m. to light the Christmas tree. MARTA Plaza, 400 Church Street, Decatur 30030; visitdecaturgeorgia.com.

Winter Wonderland at Brook Run Park

Saturday, Dec. 7, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. There’s ice skating, food trucks, a movie and more holiday fun. Brook Run Park, 4770 North Peachtree Road, Dunwoody 30338; discoverdunwoody.com.

Christmas Jubilee and Parade of Lights

Saturday, Dec. 7, 5:30-8:30 p.m. After the parade, Santa and the mayor switch the lights on

the 30-foot tall Christmas tree. Downtown Woodstock, 30188; visitwoodstockga.com.

Bonfire on the Square

Thursday, Dec. 12, 7-8 p.m. Listen to student choral groups and holiday music while roasting marshmallows on the 10 x 20-foot bonfire. 116 East Trinity Place, Decatur 30030; decaturdba.com.

Candlelight Nights▼

Fridays, Dec. 13 & 20, 5:30-9:30 p.m. Visitors are invited to stroll the decorated grounds, shop at the Christmas Market and enjoy food, music and special activities. Atlanta History Center, 130 West Paces Ferry Road, Atlanta 30305; atlantahistorycenter.com.

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Concerts & Shows

The Nutcracker: Land of the Sweets ► Friday & Saturday, Nov. 29 & 30, 4 p.m. & 7 p.m. both days. Dance & Music Academy presents Clara’s holiday adventure. Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest Street, Roswell 30075; woodstocknutcracker.com.

A Kid’s Christmas

Saturday, Nov. 30, 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Johns Creek Symphony offers a holiday musical event for the whole family. Johns Creek United Methodist Church, 11180 Medlock Bridge Road, Johns Creek 30097; johnscreeksymphony.org.

‘Tis the Season to Be Merry

Friday, Dec. 6, 8 p.m. Former and original Celtic Woman Chloë Agnew and the Atlanta Pops Orchestra Ensemble perform fan favorites and holiday tunes.

Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest Street, Roswell 30075; roswellgov.com, click on ‘Discover Us’, then ‘Cultural Arts Center.’

Christmas Festival Concert

Friday, Dec. 13, 7:30-9 p.m. RUMC choirs join with the Georgia Philharmonic to present a collection of traditional and popular holiday songs and carols. Roswell United Methodist Church, 814 Mimosa Boulevard, Roswell 30075; rumc.com.

Browse and Shop

The holidays bring wonderful shopping opportunities. Markets spring up throughout the area, filled with unique items from local artists and vendors.

Holiday Shopping

Elegant Elf Marketplace

Saturday & Sunday, Nov. 9 & 10, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. A premier fundraiser for the Sandy Springs Society, this marketplace is a destination event for Atlanta shoppers. City Springs Civic & Cultural Center, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs 30328; sandyspringssociety.org.

Atlanta Christkindl Market

Opens Thursday, Nov. 21, 6 p.m., runs through Dec. 24. There’s entertainment, shopping, special events and German food at this fundraiser for the German American Cultural Foundation. Centennial Olympic Park, 265 Park Avenue, Atlanta 30313; christkindlmarket.org.

ICE Holiday Shopping Spectacular

Saturday & Sunday, Nov. 23 & 24, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. The Indie Craft Experience (ICE) brings together 200 craft and vintage vendors. Georgia World Congress Center, 235 Northside Drive, Atlanta 30313; ice-atlanta.com.

Back to Nature Holiday Market

Saturday, Dec. 7, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Over 40 local vendors and artisans offer unique handmade and eco-friendly gifts. Chattahoochee Nature Center, 9135 Willeo Road, Roswell 30075; chattnaturecenter.org.

Decatur Holiday Marketplace & Café

Friday, Dec. 13 5:30-9:30 p.m. & Saturday, Dec. 14, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Local food, live music and more than 100 local artisans and crafters draw shoppers every year. Clairemont Elementary School, 155 Erie Avenue, Decatur 30030; decaturholidaymarketplace. com.

Holiday Market

Sunday, Dec. 15, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Take care of last-minute holiday shopping from craft and vintage vendors. Yaarab Temple, 400 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Atlanta 30308; ice-atlanta.com.

Pet Pick

Meet Diamond and Zeus! They were loved for many years by their previous family. When the family’s circumstances changed, they lost their home and tried their best to keep both dogs. They soon realized it was in everyone’s best interest to find a new home for them.

These two have been together their entire lives, and their previous owner says that they get along with other dogs and kids. They don’t have any known history with cats, but an Atlanta Humane Society Adoption Counselor can teach you how

to introduce your current pets slowly and successfully.

Diamond and Zeus are 10 and 11 years old, so they have some natural aging aches and pains, but they’re healthy overall and excited to settle into a new home for their golden years. They’re both housebroken, know basic commands and are spayed/neutered, up to date on vaccinations and microchipped.

You can meet these two at the AHS Mansell location, 1565 Mansell Road in Alpharetta, or email adoptions@atlantahumane.org for more information.

It’s raining!!!… It’s pouring!!!

Pumpkin-y Goodness

By Mark Woolsey

Cooler Temperatures. Falling leaves. Bringing in a bountiful harvest. The humble pumpkin. They all seem inseparable somehow, with the orange-yellow variety of squash calling upon our nostalgia for a simpler, close-to-the-land type of existence.

No wonder many Atlantans drive 20, 30 and more miles to visit a pumpkin patch to scoop up a vegetable they rarely touch the rest of the year. And Maybe that partly explains why the pumpkin food and drink craze has spread far beyond pumpkin pie and bread in recent years.

Whether you have a hankering for the more traditional or more trendy forms of pumpkin fare, we’ve done the homework for you.

Pumpkin Spice Latte

For a lot of people, Starbucks sets the standard for this iconic fall drink. But Revolution goes one better. Presiding over a funky spot ensconced in a Decatur strip center, owner Maria Moore Riggs says she eschews pumpkin syrups and opts for actual pumpkin, locally sourced if possible. House-made espresso, fall-ish spices such as nutmeg and cinnamon and a variety of milks seal the deal.

The result: a drink with a subtle and mellow pumpkin presence, nicely balanced and all natural, and a hallmark of their fall operation. And oh yeah, the donuts are tasty as well. Price: $4 for a small, $5 for a large.

Revolution Doughnuts

908 W. College Avenue, Decatur 30030

470-428-2023

revolutiondonuts.com

Pumpkin Cheesecake

Oh. My. Goodness. This is cheesecake that already puts others to shame, and the addition of fresh pumpkin and a few other signature touches puts it to shame.

A moist pumpkin cheesecake filling. A Graham Cracker crust. Pecans coated with a cinnamon brown sugar glaze, a cinnamon whipped cream and white-chocolateslathered strawberry complete a layered journey into seasonal bliss. It’s a seasonal item. The pumpkin pie and cookies stand out as well. Price: $5.75.

Corner Café

3070 Piedmont Road, Atlanta 30305

404-237-2060

buckheadrestaurants.com/restaurant/corner-cafe/

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A plethora of Atlanta eateries serve pumpkin pie, but it’s safe to say that few have worked on creating a made-from-scratch masterpiece like the Pie Hole in Roswell. Owner Sabrina Crossley says she worked on the right of balance of seasonings and spices long and hard, taste-testing it with a number of different groups. The result? A pie that’s hearty and flavorful, somewhat tart and not overly sugary.

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They do about 900 pies a year and Crossley said they have a lot of loyal repeat customers, some of whom say they usually don’t care for pumpkin pie at all. (They gladly make an exception in this case). Price: $27.

The Pie Hole

1025 Canton Street, Roswell 30075

678-461-3776

facebook.com/ThePieHole

Pumpkin Beer

Lil Punk. It’s assertive and in-your-face like its namesake. The pumpkin spice flavor hits you right off the bat, more so than with a lot of pumpkin lattes and other coffee drinks of the world. The hazelnut component of this brown ale also comes nicely to the fore, making this an almost sinfully rich sipping experience. This would be a great dessert beer for Thanksgiving, paired with, say, pecan pie. I’d let the turkey and fixin’s settle first, though. And judicious sipping seems like a good idea here; the punk is 8 % alcohol by volume. Pumpkin-flavored beer is said to have lost some of its cachet, but you wouldn’t know it here. Price: $4 for a 5-ounce pour, $6 for 11 ounces.

Schoolhouse Brewing

840 Franklin Court, Suite A, Marietta 30067 770-361-5247

facebook.com/schoolhousebeer

Pumpkin Pancakes and Waffles

What more can you say about pumpkin pancakes? They’re featured year-round at the Original Pancake House, and have been for the past seven years. And they should be, because they’re bursting with vibrant harvest-time flavor.

Yes, pancakes are sugary by nature, but these don’t cross the line. The batter is pleasantly moist and eggs and various spices add a perfect touch. These folks are serious about pumpkins. Unbidden, a server offered up a pumpkin waffle on the side. A little bit of a different flavor than the pancakes but very pleasing. Price: $5.75 for a short stack, around $9 for the tall variety.

The Original Pancake House

2321 Cheshire Bridge Road, Atlanta 30324 404-633-5677

breakfastrestaurantatlanta.com

lenbrook expansion adds independent residences

Last month, Lenbrook broke ground on its approximately $115 million expansion, Kingsboro at Lenbrook, to be located on a 4-acre parcel adjacent to Lenbrook’s Buckhead campus. Kingsboro at Lenbrook will add 53 independent residences called Flats and Villas. It’s scheduled to open in 2022.

“We’re delighted, but not surprised, by the strong advance interest in our elegant, spacious new homes, and are eager to start construction,” said Chris Keysor, president and CEO of Lenbrook.

The Flats are comprised of 39 residences in a five-story building with a variety of floor plans ranging from 1,700 to 3,200 square feet, while the Villas will consist of three buildings, each with four to five residences between 2,000 and 3,200 square feet.

Residents of the new expansion will have access to all of Lenbrook’s services and amenities. The expansion will have an enclosed, climate-controlled connector as well as an on-demand shuttle service between Kingsboro at Lenbrook and the main campus.

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Should you check your blood pressure at home? HEALTH

Have you ever considered home bloodpressure monitoring? It may be an important topic to raise with your health-care provider during your next office visit.

Blood-pressure readings taken at doctors’ offices are important, but a series of regular readings taken over time at home can help medical providers better understand what is going on with a patient. For one thing, regular readings may help determine how well your blood-pressure medicine is working.

Not everyone can track their blood pressure at home, the Mayo Clinic says online. For example, if you have an irregular heartbeat, or have been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (a type of quivering or irregular heartbeat), then home blood-pressure monitoring might not be able to provide accurate readings.

Still, there is increasing evidence that home readings may improve the ability to predict some problems in their early stages. And that’s when treatment may be the most effective.

Blood-pressure readings: A few FAQs to help get started

If you missed taking anatomy and physiology in school, you may feel a bit uncomfortable about taking and trying to understand your blood pressure. Here’s some information that may help get you started.

Q: Is the heart a muscle or an organ?

A: That’s a trick question. It’s both! WebMD explains it this way: “The heart is a muscular organ about the size of a fist, located just behind and slightly left of the breastbone.”

Q: What does controlling blood pressure mean?

A: “Each day your heart beats (on average) 100,000 times,” the Cleveland Clinic’s website says. It pumps blood through “a vast system of blood

How to do it

When measuring your own blood pressure, Harvard Health Publishing suggests these steps to get the best results:

■ Sit with your feet flat on the floor, rest your back against the chair, and place your arm on a table or other flat surface.

■ Sit quietly for five minutes before wrapping the cuff snugly around the upper part of your bare arm.

vessels that is more than 60,000 miles long.” If the heart is working too hard, or not hard enough, it can lead to more serious problems. Controlling blood pressure means keeping the numbers within the normal range.

Q: What do blood pressure numbers mean?

A: When contracting, the heart’s at work; but when the contraction is released, the heart briefly rests. When contracted, the systolic pressure is measured; and when at rest it’s the diastolic pressure. Those numbers look like a fraction when you write them down (such as: 120/70 or 118/84). To remember which number goes where, think about the letter “d” for diastolic and associate it with “down.” The resting rate is always “down” or under the contracting or higher number.

Q: What’s a normal blood pressure? The following graph is updated information from the American Heart Association:

Source: Copyright American Heart Association

Q: How often should I check my blood pressure?

A: There is no fixed number for how often you should monitor your blood pressure. The frequency is likely to vary depending on decisions you make with advice from your doctor or nurse practitioner. Dr. Randall Zusman, associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and director of the division of hypertension at Massachusetts General Hospital Heart Center, recommends recording the information regularly and reporting it to your doctor or nurse practitioner during physicals. “Take a reading in the morning and again at night, two or three times a week,” Zusman wrote in an online article.

Q: What sort of device is best for checking my blood pressure?

A: The American Heart Association recommends an automatic, cuffstyle, bicep (upper-arm) monitor. On its website, the AHA says:

■ Wrist and finger monitors are not recommended — the readings may not be as reliable.

■ Choose a monitor that has received good ratings and reviews. Check with your doctor, pharmacist or nurse for suggestions.

■ Make sure the cuff fits — measure around your upper arm, selecting a monitor that comes with the right cuff size (most are adjustable over a wide range of sizes).

Once you’ve purchased your monitor, bring it to your next appointment. Make sure you are using it correctly and (just as important) getting the same results as their office equipment.

Judith L. Kanne, RN, BSN, BA

is a registered nurse and freelance writer who lives in Atlanta.

Protect Yourself with a Common-Sense Mindset

One new irritant among the many I confront—at least since I entered the post-60 phase of life—is the categorization of being a “senior.”

Don’t get me wrong, I love the discounts and the fact that I have built-in excuses for giving my grandkids unfiltered advice, much to the chagrin of their parents. No, that part is awesome.

I don’t even mind younger cops telling me that they were not even born when I started my police career in the mid-1970s. I just remind them I saw all the cool bands when they played instruments, not turntables.

STAY SAFE

Steve Rose is a retired Sandy Springs Police Captain, veteran Fulton County police officer and freelance writer. He is the author the book “Why Do My Mystic Journeys Always Lead to the Waffle House?” and the column “View from a Cop.”

Since I spent my career in law enforcement, for me, the category of “senior crime” can be misleading. The advice that I would like to give you as you read this is twofold.

One, don’t buy into the mentality of “senior crime” as a label that you are feeble and unable to fend for yourself. True, as we reach our late 80s and 90s, we will need some help, but don’t fall into that mindset too quickly.

The internet is full of good crimeprevention articles, tips and videos specifically addressing senior crime trends. Most seniors are in the category of being

quite able to take care of business, so act on the information. Take care of business and don’t use age as an excuse.

Two, remember that your safety isn’t a checklist, but rather a simple, non-laborious philosophy, an obligation to secure your and your family’s safety. Read something new each month and see if and/ or how it applies to you. Educate yourself on crime trends in your area.

Need help? Contact your local police agency and ask for the community or crime-prevention officer for information. The truth is, however, that his or her research is along the same lines as what you can access.

The bottom line is that you need to forget your age category and focus on what everyone else should be focusing on, which is use common sense, verify information and don’t commit to calls that are suspicious in nature.

You’ll see that it all comes down to common sense. You have that common sense, so use it.

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MAKING A DIFFERENCE

OLLI Instructor Crusades Against ‘aging in place’

By Donna Williams Lewis

“It sounds so simple. It sounds so practical. Why not? Stay in the home you love and near the things you love. Many are telling you to do it. Therefore, it must be right, or is it?”

That’s how Brandt Ross introduces a new program of his that’s drawing large audiences around town — “The 4 Hazards of Aging in Place.”

The 82-year-old retired CEO, volunteer history teacher and folk musician became a super advocate of senior residences after his 2014 move to one of them with his wife, Ginny.

“It’s like a cruise ship that never leaves the dock,” he says, of their current home. The couple downsized from a 2,800-square-foot, threestory condo to a 1,200-square-foot Buckhead apartment featuring a wide range of activities, excursions, a restaurant-style dining room and a happy hour area.

In the process of moving, they shed everything from about 3,000 books to a full vanload of Ross’s beloved collection of baseball memorabilia.

“Every senior says, ‘I love my home,’” Ross said, in a recent presentation to about 100 people at Emory University’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI). “Bulletin: Your home doesn’t love you. It served its purpose … but at a certain point in time it’s going to turn on you.”

Homes can develop costly issues over time, Ross reminded the audience at the OLLI program. Also, a home is a significant part of one’s net worth, and one that’s been modified for a senior’s needs faces a limited pool of potential buyers, he said.

Therefore, “Your Home,” tops his list of the hazards of aging in place.

Here’s how Ross defines the other three:

■ Stuff — Your children probably do not want the “treasures” you’ve accumulated over a lifetime.

■ Family — Your family may end up having to make decisions for you, which can lead to disagreement and dissension.

■ Socialization — Interactive skills can decline as socialization may be reduced.

The story of Nancy

Ross moves from the hazards to suggestions on overcoming them in a program filled with straight talk and real-life “horror stories” of folks he knows such as the one about “Nancy.”

2016 — Nancy, age 73, was a retired, financially secure widow who lived in a large suburban home and was active in the community. Her children both lived in the Midwest and had their own businesses and families.

2019 — Nancy fell and broke her hip. The surgery was unsuccessful. She is in constant pain. Her children convinced her she must sell her house and move. They spent one day “home shopping for Mom” and moved her into an assisted living facility. She is unhappy with no one to talk to, and the house is full of “stuff” and on the market.

Ross does recommend that seniors sell their houses, but he also strongly advises that they do it themselves, and that they select their new homes only after visiting many. “It is better for you to choose your own home—and when you are not under stress,” he said.

He was asked at what age this transition should begin. “Don’t wait. You can’t be on time,” he said. “You’ll either be early or late. I was five years too early but thank God I was.”

He suggests an action plan that ranges from getting your home professionally evaluated and inspected to downsizing possessions and deciding where you want to live based on what’s important to you.

Strumming his message

Ross’s program is softened with plenty of humor, his guitar and song. His first number was The Statler Brothers’ “The Class of ’57.”

The music was a hit. The first question during Q&A was a request for Ross to play “When I’m 64,” by the Beatles. (He laughed, but politely declined.)

Ross’s new program is an updated version of the “Seniors In Denial” class he taught for several years at senior centers, senior residences and a string of adult education programs from Kennesaw to Decatur. “I decided that I had to become more aggressive in pushing seniors to take action,” Ross said.

His words hit the spot with Patricia Martin of Buckhead, who said she wished her husband had also attended the program. “I thought it was wonderful,” Martin said. “He’s been there, done that.”

Susan Stroud of Brookhaven agreed. “It was so useful, so many things to help you think through the process and things to consider, plus entertaining,” she said.

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Above, Brandt Ross (inset) performs a musical interlude during his presentation of “The 4 Hazards of Aging in Place” at Emory University’s OLLI program. (Credit: Donna Williams Lewis )

Looking back with a laugh through a classics movie club

By Joe Earle

They’re not exactly the latest thing in movies. Then again, that’s sort of the point. These films show where modern movies came from.

And they show what movies used to be.

That’s part of the reason Hylda Wilson comes to the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta to watch the movies shown through its Classics Film Club.

“I like old movies,” she said. “They’re different. I don’t like the new movies. They’re not fairy tales.”

Wilson’s 86 and says she’s been watching movies since 1937 or so. She lives in Sandy Springs now, but remembers going to see “picture shows – they weren’t called movies then” in small-

town theaters when she was young.

She was born in Atmore, Ala., a small town where her family ran a general store. The family moved to the larger nearby community of Valdosta, Ga., when she was a young girl and when they left, she said with a laugh, the Jewish population of Atmore dropped to zero. Movies were a big deal then. “I used to go to movies all the time when I was young,” Wilson said. “All we had to do was go to the movies.”

But movies changed. She remembers seeing “Midnight Cowboy,” a 1969 classic about New York street hustlers, and being turned off. And that was just the beginning. “I don’t like bare butts and bare bosoms,” she said. “I don’t need to see ’em.”

But she still like those old movies. She watches some on TV. And last year, she discovered the MJCCA’s Classics Film Club shows. The club started showing classic films in the fall of 2017 and now draws small groups of film buffs to its monthly Sunday afternoon gatherings.

Andrew Hibbs puts the shows together. He usually works in the Marcus Center’s membership office, but when he heard that center staff members were thinking about showing classic films as part of the programming for people aged 60 or older, he volunteered to run the series. He’s a big movie fan.

He started out wanting to be an actor. He did some acting, he said, “but the life of an actor is pretty tough.” In college, he started looking at movies more deeply, more like a director, he said, and got a deeper understanding of the artform. “Now, I’m more interested in the behind-the-scenes stuff,” he said.

He picks the films the club shows and then researches them. He makes a short presentation on each film or on things going on in the industry at the time it was made. After the showing, he

Andrew Hibbs watches the screening of “Gold Diggers of 1933″ in the computer room of the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta. (Joe Earle)

leads a discussion on the film.

Last year, the club showed serious dramatic films, so this season, he decided to change things up a bit. “I wanted to do comedies,” he said. “I wanted to do something light and fun after having people sit through ‘Wild Strawberries’ and ‘The Bicycle Thief.’”

For this round, he scheduled Buster Keaton’s “The General” for August; “Gold Diggers of 1933,” with song-and-dance numbers directed by Busby Berkeley, for September; the Marx Brothers’ “A Night at the Opera” for October; and director Howard Hawks’ “His Girl Friday,” staring Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell, for December.

One recent Sunday, about a half-dozen people, including Wilson and Hibbs’ dad, Stan, got together in the Marcus Center’s computer room for the screening of “Gold Diggers of 1933.” Hibbs used a computer to project the black-and-white film on a screen set against the wall.

Although it’s included in the National Film Registry and was a hit in its day, “Gold Diggers of 1933” may be less well known now than the other titles in the Classic Film Club series.

The film stars Joan Blondell, Ruby Keeler, Dick Powell and Ginger Rogers. It included lots of snappy repartee and stuffy rich men being outwitted by worldly, if impoverished, chorus girls. It ends with a song called “The Forgotten Man” set against images of marching World War I veterans being reduced to living on the streets and eating from soup kitchens.

“That last piece,” Stan Hibbs said, “was really…”

“Dark?” Andrew Hibbs said.

“Yeah, dark,” Stan Hibbs agreed.

“It was hard times and a lot of films weren’t talking about it,” Andrew said.

That’s part of the reason the younger Hibbs chose the film for the program. It speaks of and for its time. And it still has lots

of dancing girls covered with coins and singing “We’re In the Money.”

“It’s one of those things that a lot of people who love film really love,” he said. “It’s kind of

a ‘guilty pleasure’ movie. It does have some interesting things to say… about the Depression. It’s also very specific to its time, to the Busby Berkeley era. You don’t see movies like that anymore.”

Hylda Wilson enjoys the offerings at the MJCCA’s Classic Films Club. (Joe Earle)

►Out & about

The Book Festival of the MJCCA Presents Its 28th Edition

Calling all book lovers! From October 30 to November 18, the Book Festival of the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta (MJCCA) will celebrate 28 years of bringing culture and conversation to the greater Atlanta community.

Headlining authors include Preet Bharara, Hillary Rodham Clinton and Chelsea Clinton, Akbar Gbajabiamila, Ambassador Nikki R. Haley, Jodi Kantor, Adam Rippon, Bari Weiss and Henry Winkler. Local authors include Perry Brickman, Zoe Fishman, Sherry Frank, Lynn Garson, Andy Lipman, Bev Saltzman Lewyn, Pat Mitchell, Brent Pease & Kyle Pease, I.J. Rosenberg and Robyn Spizman.

All events will be held at the MJCCA, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody. Purchase tickets for each individual event, or, for a better value, purchase a series pass for access to most November events. Some events are free. Call the MJCCA box office at 678-812-4002 or visit atlantajcc.org/ bookfestival.

The Arts

JCSOPops Presents The Crystals

Saturday, Nov. 16, 7:30 p.m. The 1960s girl group The Crystals, known for “He’s a Rebel” and “Da Doo Ron Ron” are the featured guest performers. Opening for them are JCSO’s String Quartet and future rock stars from School of Rock Johns Creek. Johns Creek United Methodist Church, 11180 Medlock Bridge Road, Johns Creek. Get tickets and details at johnscreeksymphony.org.

Sinatra Forever: A Tribute to Frank Sinatra

Saturday, Nov. 16, 8 p.m. Sinatra Forever is a timeless concert that pays homage to perhaps the greatest singer of all time. Rick Michel’s dazzling musical interpretation is performed with all of Sinatra’s original arrangements and a fantastic seven-piece band. Tickets are $30; $25 for seniors, students and military in person or by phone. Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest Street, Roswell 30075. For info and tickets, visit roswellgov.

com, click on ‘Discover Us’, then ‘Cultural Arts Center.’

Art in the Park—Poinsettia

Saturday, Nov. 23, 2-5 p.m. Let the natural beauty of Hammond Park inspire you to get in touch with your inner artist! The Hammond Park Community Building transforms into an artist’s studio where you can gather with friends and create beautiful paintings. Open to adults; cost is $30 per person. Registration is required. Hammond Park Community Building, 6005 Glenridge Dr., Atlanta 30328. Register at

Please join us for an informa�ve program presented by the Sandy Springs Police Department

S.C.R.A.M.

Senior Crime Reduction Awareness Measures

Officer Cory Begeal will be joining us November 14th from 2 - 3 pm at The Mansions at Sandy Springs Assisted Living & Memory Care to share with you informa�on on how you can combat elder fraud, abuse and exploita�on. He'll also be providing crime preven�on strategies, while offering educa�on to those caring for seniors.

Please RSVP your a�endance by November 12th to Jyl at (470) 338-5064 or email at JBa�erman@TheMansionsatSandySprings.com.

registration.sandyspringsga.gov.

Learn & Do

Bearing Witness: Unforgettable Stories from the Holocaust

Sunday, Nov. 10, 3 p.m. Presented by Gwinnett County Public Library in partnership with the Georgia Commission on the Holocaust. Bebe Forehand and her family were hidden from the Nazi’s in a 12x14-foot attic room for three years. They survived, but about 29,000 Belgian Jews did not. Hear her incredible story. Peachtree Corners City Hall, 310 Technology Pkwy NW, Peachtree Corners 30092. Find out more from the library by calling 770978-5154.

AARP Defensive Smart Driver Course

Thursday, Nov. 14, 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. in Snellville & Monday, Nov. 18, 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. in Lawrenceville. Learn defensive driving techniques and refresh your driving skills. Please bring a beverage and a bag lunch. For drivers 18 and older. Reservations are requested. The

cost is $15 for AARP members (bring your card) and $20 for nonmembers—cash or check only! Pay at the door. Gwinnett County Public Library, Snellville Branch, 2740 Lenora Church Road, Snellville 30078. Gwinnett County Public Library, Collins Hill Branch, 455 Camp Perrin Road, Lawrenceville 30043. Register at events@gwinnettpl.org.

Stick-Gathering Stroll & Marshmallow Roast at Morgan Falls Overlook Park

Friday, Nov. 15, 9-10:30 a.m. Take a guided nature walk on the hillside trail and collect sticks for a fire in the park’s beautiful fire pit, weather permitting. Marshmallows are provided. Meet at the Overlook fire pit. Free and open to all ages. Overlook Park, 200 Morgan Falls Road, Sandy Springs 30350. For more info, activities and events, visit friendsoflostcorner.org.

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