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STUFF TO READ
Letter from the Publisher
PAWS Humane Society
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The Well -Owner Debbie Spear
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Meet Paws Humane Society’s New Executive Director
From Church Director to Cannabis Queen
The Food Mill
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From the ‘Ground’ UP
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Expands with Indoor & Mobile Market Place A Local Playwright Shoots for the Stars & MAKES IT
Elevating Voices with Jonathan Samuel Eddie
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AROUND TOWN
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Why the Fountain City Needs Slam
The Film Scout Review The Batman 2022
The Industrial Archeology of Columbus
Industrial Reconstruction 1865 - 1880 (Part II)
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Don’t you just love the cover? We definitely do. For me it gives a calming sense, a peace. The lady giving us this true beauty is none-other than Natalia Temesgen. Not only is Natalia a total gem to this community, she is kind, thoughtful, humble and a true professional to work with. I had stumbled across this particular picture featured from a post that a mutual dear friend, Tony Pettis, had shared in one of his recent online stories. To be anyone, just enjoying the sun on our faces, true beauty abounding. To be able to give that to the community right now. It made me realize what we were really after in this issue, is just that. To bring some peace. You’ll find it through Natalie Downey’s article on The Well with owner Debbie Spear, as they discuss her wonderful CBD shop. You’ll find it with Erick Richman’s article ‘Elevating Voices’ as he sits down with local poet and teacher Jonathan Samuel Eddie and tells the story of the work he’s doing to not only bring poetry & ‘Slam’ more to the community, but also his efforts to give a tremendous outlet to our youth. It’s always a good idea to truly care for your body and spirit. You can always feel good about grabbing a bite to eat at the Food Mill. Not only will you feel good about your purchase, but with their new moves to expand the restaurant with a farmers market and even a new mobile farmers market, you’ll be able to give yourself a pat on the back for taking care of your own health and others as well, in the tastiest way possible. And isn’t it time to go see a good movie? Have a laugh, while our film scout John Houzer gives the 411 on the newest Batman movie, ‘The Batman’ and why it’s time to get back to the theater. Always, the ultimate goal of this magazine is to give you, the reader, a small sense of the charm and wonder that is Columbus. And there’s no better way to showcase what we have now than to show you from where we have come from. Always revitalizing. Make sure to check out The Industrial Archeology of Columbus, Part II. & what Fieldcrest Mills was before it became the luxury lofts it is today, back when our mothers used to work there. Find all our back issues at issuu.com/thelocalcolumbus, where you can follow us too. Catch more from the Historic Society as well as Tuesday’s with Justin and other blogs by the society at HistoricColumbus.com. Plus, events, & whew boy do we have some! So so many of them in this issue. It’s good to see this many again, this calendar is a Beast. Make sure you take advantage. We’ve included all the goods. Now go, enjoy this weather. Eat a taco, have a drink on the patio and take advantage of all that the city has to offer. We’ve got all the hot spots and hot stops for you right here. Thanks for reading, Monica Jones
t hel o cal co l u mbu s . co m f acebook .com/t helocalcolumbusga issuu.com/t helocalcolumbus
What We Are All About.
The mission of the LocaL magazine is to bring you the best in art, music, food and fun from Columbus and the surrounding area. Locally owned and operated, we work to improve and expand community relationships through promoting positive events and stories. When good things are happening, we will be here to help you get involved. Our monthly print issues will feature stories and events that comprise and drive the ongoing surge toward a more beautiful community. This magazine exists because we who work on it believe in actively engaging with community improvement, and we invite you to join us, not only by reading these pages, but also by taking part in any of the many wonderful events we feature.
PUBLISHER
Monica Jones publisher@thelocalcolumbus.com editor@thelocalcolumbus.com
LAYOUT & DESIGN
Mat Cornett
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Scott Berson
ADVERTISING | PR Monica Jones ads@thelocalcolumbus.com
CONTRIBUTORS & CREDITS Scott Berson Natalie Downey Erick Richman Josh McQuien Paws Humane Society Columbus Historic Society
Cover Photo Provided by Natalia Temesgen.
The Food Mill
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Meet Humane Society’s New Executive Director aws Humane Society is pleased to announce P the appointment of Courtney Pierce as the organization’s Executive Director Pierce began her journey in animal services in March 2003 when she joined the Muscogee County Humane Society as the Intake Manager. In 2007, she teamed up with Paws of Columbus as
and work alongside our amazing staff to serve our community and do what we can to make it a better place for our companion animals.” Paws Humane Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to enrich the lives of both animals and people as a solutionbased community resource for animal welfare by providing high-volume and high quality spay/ neuter, rescue and adoption services, volunteer opportunities, outreach, and education. Paws Humane Society’s vision is to be the regional leader for animal welfare in adoption, spay/neuter, outreach and education to ultimately create a No-Kill Community. Paws Humane Society is supported by private contributions from the citizens of our community. Your donation helps our shelter continue its mission of giving animals a second chance at finding their forever homes. The importance of adoption. Be a hero, change a life! Your home and love will provide an animal the chance to succeed in living their wonderful new life as your new best friend. Without a doubt, when you rescue a dog, puppy, cat or kitten, it will put an instant smile on your face and you gain the perfect companion! If you are interested in adoption visit, www.pawshumane.org. Mark your calendars: our sixth annual Barks & Blues Music Festival is scheduled for October 15th. This year’s event will be held on the banks of the Chattahoochee River at the beautiful Woodruff Park in Columbus, Georgia. The festivities will be from 4:00 PM to 11:00 PM, with arts and craft vendors, food trucks, a kid’s zone and great music! For more information on how you can become a vendor or sponsor of the Barks & Blues Music Festival visit, www.barksandblues.com. We hope to see you there. Executive Director Courtney Pierce
Executive Director Courtney Pierce
the Adoption Counselor and Intake Coordinator, where she served for two years until the merger of Paws of Columbus and Muscogee County Humane Society, forming what now is Paws Humane Society, where she easily transitioned into the role of Intake Manager. Pierce became an Animal Control Officer for Columbus Animal Care and Control from 2014 to 2015 before joining the nationally recognized Best Friends Animal Society as the Community Cat Coordinator. In 2017, Pierce teamed back up with Paws Humane as the Director of Admissions and Adoptions. Fast-forward five years, she is now Paws Humane’s Executive Director. With 19 years of animal service experience and advanced dog training from the Animal Behavior Institute, she is an invaluable asset to Paws Humane as well as the animal service community in Columbus, Georgia and the Chattahoochee Valley. Pierce has built lasting relationships not only with the community, but with the staff at Paws Humane as well. “I have always been really passionate about not only animals, but our community here in Columbus,” she said. “I am super excited to step into this new role LocaL
4900 Milgen Road Columbus pawshumane.org office@pawshumane.org (706) 565-0035 • Vet Clinic (706) 987-8380
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By Natalie Downey
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From Church Director to CANNABIS QUEEN
he looks like a friendly neighborhood soccer mom, but Debbie Spear’s mission to help Columbus with CBD makes her anything but ordinary.
Owner, Debbie Spear
After serving nearly 20 years in education and ministry, Debbie read a blog post that would change her life. The post, which was about the benefits of CBD, intrigued her immediately, since her husband Eddie had been dealing with chronic pain. A natural, alternative way to deal seemed like a good thing, and she began learning more about CBD and the cannabis plant in general. Cannabidiol (CBD) is a legal compound derived from the cannabis plant which has been found to have a multitude of benefits. From helping with anxiety, sleeplessness, and depression, to offering pain relief without the risk of addiction, CBD is a substance with endless potential. As science continues to better understand it , new benefits are identified, and its specific properties are isolated to help with specific concerns. The human body contains an endocannabinoid system, designed to receive and interact with the compounds of the cannabis plant. “There is this compound, and our bodies are primed to receive it,” she explains in fascination. “It’s a God-given compound for a God-given system.” It wasn’t long before Debbie’s fascination with CBD turned into a desire to share this wonder chemical with her community. “I knew it was a leap, but I felt so strongly about it that I was going to do it one way or another.” When dealing with a substance that can be controversial, often due to people’s lack of accurate information about it, one of the biggest barriers can be getting people to have an open mind. Debbie was faced with several rejections when looking for a location to launch her idea of a local CBD APR I L-MAY 2022
shop. “We were like, ‘It’s not going to be a head shop, we’re talking quality medicinal merchandise here,” she laughs. “When I first started looking for a location to open my shop, people didn’t know what CBD was, so I had to explain.” After having five locations turn her down, a location finally became available, and it wasn’t just any location. A spot that Debbie and her husband had admired for years opened up, and she knew this was a sign she was on the right path. Much care and consideration went into the design and layout of the new CBD shop, The Well. With a vision not just for a retail shop selling CBD products, but a lifestyle boutique complete with an inviting
sitting area, local art, and handcrafted products. It was important that the shop feel welcoming, as she intentionally created it to be a safe space for her to work one on one with customers to help them find the right product to meet their needs. “This is an important element to what we do,” Debbie says, “We genuinely want to help.” And the work is rewarding. “I’ve had clients tell me, ‘My life has changed because of this.” While Debbie traded in her church director role for the role of your local CBD dealer, she feels that she is still running a ministry. “We’re helping people get off traditional prescription medicines with negative side effects and get great results with no side effects using CBD,” she says. In some cases, CBD has helped people escape long-term addictions and find alternative methods of dealing with chronic pain. While Debbie’s welcoming and caring approach to helping her customers sets her apart, her dedication to operating her business with integrity goes even deeper. It’s crucial to her that people know they can trust her and are willing to take her advice and try a product that has great potential to help them. While CBD can be found almost anywhere these days, including at gas stations, a lack of federal regulation on the substance LocaL
means there can be huge variations in the quality. Debbie carefully vets every company she purchases from, asking the important questions about how the plants are grown and harvested, and checking to make sure the companies operate with the same integrity she promises her customers. Protecting the planet and giving the customer an affordable product also come into play at The Well. One company Debbie gets some of her products from, Sustainable CBD, is a locally owned company, and she offers a reduced rate to clients who use this CBD oil when they bring their bottle back in for a refill. In spite of CBD products becoming more mainstream, there are still some common misconceptions about them. Debbie explains that CBD will not get you high, but rather can offer a calm focus. As long as THC levels in cannabinoid products remain below .3%, it is completely legal nationwide. CBD with no THC is also available at The Well to customers who want to avoid the chemical altogether. Looking back over the past several years, Debbie muses, “It’s funny how life takes you on journeys. I never saw myself becoming the Cannabis Queen.” And yet her role as Columbus’ cannabinoid expert has provided an opportunity for our community to learn,
heal, explore, and grow together, and her willingness to rise to the occasion is making a difference in our city. For Debbie Spear, it’s about the mission, not the buck. “That one little plant holds so much for us,” she says. The support of the community is invaluable to her, and watching individuals become healthier is satisfying. If you’re feeling curious about how CBD might be able to help you, Debbie invites you to visit her at The Well and talk about it. The Well is located at 1205 1st Avenue in Columbus, next to Bodega 1205. Hours of operation are Mondays - Fridays 11am - 6 pm, and Saturdays 10 am - 3 pm.u
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EXPAN DS With Indoor & Mobile Farmers Market By Natalie Downey
been said before and we’ll say it again, food Ithistis has medicine, and The Food Mill has conceptualized idea with their local nonprofit organization’s work
to reduce food insecurity and use food to heal. Food insecurity is a complex issue, and leads to a lack of adequate nutrition for the people it affects.
In the local area, there are many people who don’t have access to the food required to help them heal, and might not have the knowledge of how to
prepare that food, or the tools needed to prepare it. Olivia had already been working with Mercy Med on a solution to this problem, and decided to start The Food Mill as a nonprofit Food as Medicine outreach program. “I’ve always wanted to help Many health complications arise from food insecurity, people, especially people who don’t have as many which is why The Food Mill (near Bibb City) has resources,” Olivia explains. “It’s important to me collaborated with other local organizations to address that they’re receiving these opportunities.” The Food Mill’s programs focus on reducing these issues and design a creative and effective solution barriers that lead to food insecurity, and reducing to them. Long-term change is the goal of The Food Mill’s rates of diet-related illnesses, by creating access to work as they seek to address food insecurity on all fresh food, nutrition education, culinary education, levels. Their uniquely tailored programs are designed with a focus on accessibility and affordability. To make fresh, nutritious food more accessible to do just that. Olivia Amos, the executive director of UGrow Inc., and affordable to the community they serve, The the nonprofit The Food Mill is a branch of, has always Food Mill is opening a brick and mortar Farmer’s wanted to help Columbus by bringing us a program Market. This store inside the Food Mill’s current location on 2nd Avenue will be open to the public, and offers incentives to people dealing with food insecurity by doubling SNAP benefits with the purchase of locally grown produce. The majority of the fresh produce The Food Mill provides to the local community is grown right here in Columbus and the surrounding areas by local farmers. The Food Mill’s support of local farmers
that acted as a proactive first line of defense against food scarcity issues. “I’ve always had a passion for “Food as Medicine,’ and approaching healthcare from the wellness point of view,” she explains. With a background in pharmaceutical sales, she saw a disconnect between doctors and patients, as patients often don’t know how to practically change their eating habits to improve their health. “I became passionate about being proactive with using food as the first line of defense in our health, instead of being reactive,” says Olivia. LocaL
gives them the ability to keep growing food, and keeps fresh, local items available to the community. “It’s really important that we have a strong, stable local food economy,” Olivia explains. For those who aren’t able to access the brick and 6
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mortar Farmer’s Market, a mobile farmer’s market will be opening around the same time, providing fresh produce and nutritious food on wheels to ensure that food is available to all in the Columbus and surrounding area. The Food Mill’s medically tailored meal program works with Mercy Med to prescribe a meal plan for patients who are suffering from dietary-related health conditions. When a patient at Mercy Med Setting Up The Indoor Farmers Market
gets a meal-based prescription from the doctor, they can then take it to The Food Mill to be filled. Understanding that access to fresh food isn’t enough, The Food Mill also offers a cooking program to teach participants how to prepare the produce they receive, and the nutritional benefits of these foods. The Food Mill is working with two schools, Fox Elementary and Truth Springs Academy, to create programs that teach students how to grow and cook and prepare it, and educates them on the nutritional benefits of certain foods. They will also have after school
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cooking programs that include the whole family, to help caregivers also learn food preparation skills. In addition to its outreach programs, The Food Mill operates a cafe on 2nd Avenue, which helps the nonprofit organization fund its programs and supports its overhead expenses. The cafe has nutritious food options available for breakfast, lunch, catering, and prepared family meals. One way the local community can help support the important work The Food Mill is doing is to visit the cafe for breakfast or lunch. Supporting the cafe means supporting the outreach, so the benefits are more than just a nutritious meal. As The Food Mill continues to make an impact
in the community, their hope is to eliminate food insecurity so that everyone has access to fresh, healthy food. “We don’t want to just put on a bandaid on this health disparity, we want to give people steps to become self-sustainable as far as their access to food and the ability to prepare it in a healthy way is concerned.” To support The Food Mill, stop by for a meal anytime Mon-Fri from 8 am to 3 pm and Saturday from 8 am to 2 pm, or visit thefoodmill.org to get involved or make a donation.u
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From the ‘Ground’
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English department, writing plays and shorts when she could and penning a weekly column for the Ledger-Enquirer. On set photo by gdsfilm8
Local Playwright Shoots for the Stars
& MAKES IT
ome people are born to be storytellers. They S have it in their blood - the ability to thread language and image into new worlds. It’s not impossible to learn this art; even the best artists will tell you their hard work and dedication got them farther than any birthright talent. Yet it would be hard to describe Natalia Temesgen as anything other than a born Natalia Temesgen
By Scott Berson
originally learned she had a spark for bringing stories to life. “We moved to Columbus when I was eight, and even before then, I loved performing,” she said. “I always imagined that would be my connection to storytelling. I always loved, like many kids now, making these videos with my friends when they would come over, putting on little plays.” It was at college that she discovered her true passion, the coming-together of all her talents: writing for stage and screen. She wrote a play for school and entered it into a contest, which she won, catapulting her production to New York City, where she was able to watch actors auditioning for the roles she had created. “It was so cool to me. I love playing The Sims, and it was almost like a version of that,” she said. “You create characters, and people are putting life into them. That was the bug, and I knew I wanted to do more of it.” She finished her English degree at Princeton and moved straight onto her master’s in dramatic writing, before finding her way back to Columbus, where her husband, now a prominent lawyer in town, was finishing up his legal exams. She began teaching in CSU’s
Her dream was to begin writing for television, but even with the burgeoning film industry in Georgia, she knew it would be difficult to truly build a career without moving to a major hub. That’s what initially got her interested in co-creating “Grounds.”
storyteller. A playwright, actor, screenwriter, newspaper columnist, parent and teacher – there’s little she’s done that hasn’t been an act of creation in some form or another. The last few years though? She’s leapt to the next level. Just a minor rundown of some of what Natalia has worked on recently: A miniseries, “Grounds,” set and produced entirely in Columbus. A writing gig on the Netflix megahit “Dear White People,” and another on the upcoming HBO drama “Julia.” An upcoming project for Hulu, “Reasonable Doubt,” developed with a writer’s room entirely made up of people of color. And more projects on the horizon. “I’ve evolved so much as an artist in these last couple years,” Natalia said, speaking from her porch in Columbus. She recalled how she had LocaL
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“I wanted to write for TV, but everyone was telling me, ‘It’s really hard for you to do that if you aren’t here (in Los Angeles).’ Of course, I can’t just leave for nothing. They were like well, maybe to get your foot in the door, you could have a web series, some kind of representation of your voice.” The series, which debuted early this year on YouTube, for free on the Argo Navis studio page, takes place over a day in Fountain City Coffee. It features a variety of narrative short films that explore the “funny, moving, and quirky dynamics between the patrons and employees” at the beloved downtown
Sara Lynn Holbrook & Natalia Temesgen at the Urban Mediamakers Film Festival
spot. Natalia teamed up with actors and producers Jef and Sara Holbrook to create the series, which was produced entirely with local talent. The crew rented out Fountain City Coffee for two days and CSU students helped with the production. After filming wrapped, Jef edited the cuts and said he and Sara recorded every line of dialogue and every sound in post-production, creating coffee noises by rattling their own plates and mugs into a microphone. It was an intense process, but Sara said she was happy she did it. “It’s always inspiring to work with other creative, powerful women, and the whole experience is something I look back on fondly,” she said. Meanwhile, Natalia had found a break. “It was a lot of feeling weird about being 30, living in Georgia, being a mom, and just still hustling, trying LocaL
to make this crazy thing happen. But I thought, if i don’t try hard, i can’t say it wasn’t meant to be. I have to put my best foot forward,” she said. “I would send emails to all my friends out there, saying, hey do you think your manager might want to read my script? One friend of mine had been doing “Dear White People,” and every season he had just been going up the ranks. He said they had been staffing season 4, and I was like what, well here’s my script.” It led to an interview with the showrunner, Justin Simien. They did the interview over video, with Simien in his car. After their talk, he thanked her and went into his office to interview some more people who had been there in person. She thought that was probably the end of it. A week later, she had the job, and was on her way to the writers room. She stayed at the studio as a writer for a month before COVID cut it short, and she finished the rest of the work from home. It hasn’t stopped since. She moved on to writing on “Julia” for HBO “Reasonable Doubt” for Hulu. She continues to shop around other projects too, including an adaptation of a young adult novel. Oh, and she continues to teach full time as a tenured professor. So Natalia can tell stories. But I wondered, why
continue to do it here, in Columbus? With her success, why not move to Atlanta, or Los Angeles? Part of it, she says, is that her families have lives, jobs, schools here. But there’s something else, too. “Columbus is so rich,” she said. “There’s something we are missing on some level when compared to Los Angeles or Boston, where mass of people is always going to bring a little more diversity, a richness. But I also feel like Columbus is haunted in a lot of ways. There’s just a lot of rich inspiration to me when I walk around. There’s just tons of stories, sitting under the surface, just waiting.. In LA you don’t feel that way, it’s just so saturated with the here and now and the glitter and the urgency. The space doesn’t speak very much to you, you can’t even hear it at all anymore. Here, I still hear a lot of things.” u Natalia Temesgen
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ELEVATING VOICES WITH
Jonathan Samuel Eddie Why the Fountain City Needs Slam By Erick Daniel Richman
Jonathan Samuel Eddie “In order to tell the truth, you have to be honest with yourself,” poet Jonathan Samuel Eddie begins, “I have had to practice what I have been preaching, and it’s been beautiful.” Reflecting on a decade creating opportunities for Columbus, Georgia residents to engage with spoken word poetry and live performance, Jonathan seems to suggest that expression through careful word selection is close to a kind of freedom, right, or even some more obscure, abstract value to which every human being is entitled. “Poetry is revealing yourself to yourself,” he says, “It’s like wiping the steam off the mirror in the shower and finally looking at yourself.” Since 2011, the executive director and founder of the non-profit organization The Fountain City Teen Poetry Slam, Inc. has hosted open mic nights and local poetry slams, and prepared area teenagers to compete on the national stage. “When students come to Fountain City [Slam],” he says, “it’s like a big breath of fresh air in which they’re able to be themselves.” Most recently, the I Love Myself initiative introduces middle school students to journaling and other skills for well-being. Although he’s accumulated accolades and acclaim, his priority remains encouraging growth through expression: for himself as much as others. “The actual act [of performance poetry] is very therapeutic for me,” he says, “Humor, and laughter, and joy, and all of that - I just discovered by doing.”
Spreading Expression
“We are poetry,” he says, explaining that it’s “our
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experiences and these things that have built us that are creating these stanzas and literary devices that are oozing out of our bodies.” Across his roles, he shares how spoken word offers a “platform to speak your peace, get it off your chest, get it into the universe and let it bounce off someone’s ears and watch what it becomes.” “Getting students to that point can be frustrating,” he admits, “As we say in theater and everywhere else, ‘we are our own biggest critics.’” Hesitation and thoughts of “this is silly” or “what even is this” are common, but he sees reactions of relief and joy when students realize that “all we want you to do is use your voice.” “Let’s explore,” he tells them. “Let’s create. Let’s grow.” From there, he says, “It’s almost like they’re on a creative expression shopping spree and they’re running through the mall picking up all this stuff.” Sharing singer Nina Simone’s quote that “the artist’s duty is to reflect the times,” he encourages students, “Tell the truth and then we can deal with it, then we can grow from it.” “That’s our duty,” he says, “we can’t lie about it.” Perhaps reflecting on his own journey, he tells them that “the beauty of what we do as artists” is that “your work lives forever.” “When I say that, young people’s eyes open up, like ‘wow, I can impact my world today with words that will live forever?’”
“I can wash that character off, I can’t wash Jonathan off.” He recalls telling himself, “Okay, I need to do some self work so that I can be a better teacher, a better performer.” “Now, I have tools,” he says, mentioning counseling as well as “breathing, personal affirmations, meditation, and of course, yoga.” “There were points in my life where I was out of breath,” he says, “but in these moments of therapy and talking out, I felt the gust of wind, I felt my lungs inflate. I felt a renaissance of sorts, a coming anew.” Using those tools, he looks to make the most of each breath, “because the breath is a moment in life.” “I am happy with me,” he affirms himself, “I am comfortable with me. I am loving and learning to love myself and parts of myself.”
Living Room> Stage> Classroom
“Looking back, I was very much preparing for the life I’m leading now.” Jonathan speaks about his journey in a way consistent with his refrain that “we are poetry.” Growing up, “I had a very special place,” he says, “and my mom created that space.” “Basically every Saturday night,” he recalls, “we had an open mic in our home.” He and his siblings would play-perform between episodes of the Golden Girls, Empty Nest, and Showtime at the Apollo. He credits his mother, who served thirty years as an educator in Muscogee County, with demonstrating how to listen: “I very much have modeled my teaching practice after how she taught us in the home.” Before his first poetry slam as a senior in college, he had wanted to be a music journalist. He’d wanted to interview Janet Jackson. “I would have been asking about Rhythm Nation or whatever song… or [her roles on] Good Times or Fame.” As the person he is today, what would he ask Janet Jackson if his childhood dream came true? After a pensive moment, he says simply: “I’d ask her if she feels supported.” Practicing Self-Care “You’ve already succeeded just by standing up and being here,” he says to students, because “a lot of times stepping in the room is the goal for the day. Getting up, waking up.” Although he’d been onstage as an actor, he found spoken word challenging in new ways. 10
“I’m working on myself daily like it’s a process.” Supporting Spoken Word in Columbus “All of our events are free to any students that want to participate,” he says, “I think that’s important for access.” He encourages the community to be involved: attending events, making charitable donations, or purchasing books and t-shirts from the website. “If people are wondering how they can support, or if they can support,” he says with lighthearted appreciation, “Yes.” Visit fountaincityslam.org to learn more about Fountain City Slam and support their work in the community. “Definitely over the last ten years of existence, Fountain City Slam has survived on the generosity of this community. We need your support.” Living Poetry “We are all storytellers,” he says. We all “have stories in our bodies that are begging to be told.” Still channeling the warmth of those childhood Saturday evenings after a decade helping others explore their experiences, he suggests everyone can learn to capture, reflect, and better understand their lives through poetry. “You are the best poem ever written,” he says, “Even if you don’t realize it.” “Especially people that like, ‘I hate poetry?’” “Well,” he says with the charming, good-natured smirk of an 80s sitcom lead, “you’re a poem!” u To learn more about Jonathan Samuel Eddie and his personal work, visit www.jonsamedd.com
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Home Is Where The Art Is The exhibition features works from artists without homes who attended the Home Is Where the Art Is program at SafeHouse Ministries. All works will be on sale at a set price. The proceeds from the sales will go back to the artists and to the continuation of the program. Through April 21. On display at Highland Galerie. The HIWTAI outreach program is a collaborative effort between the Bo Bartlett Center and SafeHouse Ministries. MIRROR | ЯOЯЯIM: American Self-Portraits in the Expanded Field Curated by Jonathan F. Walz, this exhibition provides visual evidence to students and visitors of different self-portraiture styles through time as well as changing ideas about the self. Open now through June 11, Bo Bartlett Center, Columbus Journey Towards Justice: The Civil Rights Movement in the Chattahoochee Valley A spotlight on the Civil Rights Movement in the Columbus area. Themes and topics include the beginnings of a southern freedom movement and the effects of Jim Crow segregation; the role of Black institutions as a source of community pride and a breeding ground for activists; the influence of Fort Benning; direct public actions that led to the desegregation of public and private spaces; the cycle of generational violence and intimidation that activists faced; and continued civil rights activism in the 21st century. Now - October 16, The Columbus Museum Tuesday Night Ride with Ride On Bikes Join us for a ride along the riverwalk. All riders welcome. Every Tuesday, 6 p.m., Ride On Bikes, Columbus Market Days on Broadway Uptown Columbus’ Market Days on Broadway feature’s many local and organic farmers selling produce, along with soap vendors, home goods, jewelry vendors, and baked goods. Our friends from local shelters and animal rescue groups can be found in the median of Broadway. For questions, call the Uptown office at 706.596.0111. Every Saturday morning, 9am Noon, Broadway, Columbus Locals Comedy Open Mic Hosted by Nico B. Sign-up at 7:00 pm, show-time at 8 pm. Every Saturday. Come out to Locals, Phenix City Sketching Under the Skylight Free Admission and open to the public but feel free to make a donation if you enjoy these events. Due to COVID-19, the class is limited to 15 participants and properly worn masks (over nose and face) and physical distancing is required. Please call the Center at (706) 507-8432 for reservations. Leave your voices at the door and catch the creative spirit. The second Thursday of each month. The Bo Bartlett Center, Columbus Competere: An Exhibition of Artist Couples This exhibition explores artist couples and their creative collaboration. The Latin word competere means to “strive together.” It is the root of the English word “competition.” Whereas “competition” suggests rivals, one faction determined to overcome the other competere means two equals striving for the betterment of both. April 8 - June 17, Bo Bartlett Center, Columbus Motor and Mouths Monthly Meet Up A family friendly monthly meeting of car guys/girls to run their motor mouths about their vehicles. Held the 2nd Sunday of month from 8-11am. Windsor village parking lot, Carnoisseur Detail side, Columbus April Photopia Meeting - THEME: “Springtime” Join us for an evening of photography chat & image critique. Choose your favorite thing about Spring. Animals, plants, closeups, landscapes... It’s up to you. Images can be of any subject, color or monochrome, and taken any time. Hosted by Shannon Beletti, visit her Facebook event page for more details. Monday, April 4, 7 – 9 p.m., Rankin Photography & Art Center, Columbus Tracing Colors: Music Under the Dome Series A tour de force starting with two pieces performed by Schwob Concerto Competition winner flutist Alexis Eubanks, Schwob graduate pianist Whittker Locke and the award-winning Schwob Percussion Ensemble under the direction of Dr. Paul Vaillancourt will perform three pieces. As always, reception at 5pm with wine and cheese, and a 45-minute concert at 5:37pm. Tuesday, April 5, 5 p.m., Columbus State University’s Coca-Cola Space Science Center Violin Studio Recital Featuring violin students of Professor Boris Abramov. Joined by collaborative pianists Susan Hoskins, Ksenia Kurenysheva, Jiaqiu Song, and Maria Parrini. This event will be live streamed on the Schwob Facebook and YouTube channels. The RiverCenter for the Performing Arts requires that a face mask be worn by everybody who enters the building. Wednesday, April 6, 7:30 p.m., Schwob School of Music at Columbus State University Boondocks Bash with Trucks Gone Wild Boasting over 2,000 acres and over 100 miles of mud & trails. April 7, 9 a.m. – April 10 , 4 p.m., Taylor County Boondocks Mud Park, Butler Bibb City Ramblers @ Chattahooche Brewing Live Bluegrass and Tacos from Tuesdays Taco truck. Friday, April 8, 8 – 11 p.m. Stage at River Falls, 505 13th Street, Phenix City Hilliary Begley @ Hideaway Lounge Comedian/Actress Hilliary Begley, as seen on the hit Netflix Original Dumplin and When We Last Spoke on Amazon Prime will perform live on stage. If you liked her in the movies then you will love her at the Hideaway Lounge. Friday, April 8, 9 p.m., Hideaway Lounge, Columbus LocaL
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Campus 2 Campus 8k A point to point race with a different distance. The route runs south along the Rails to Trails to finish at Woodruff Park in Uptown Columbus. We suggest parking near the finish. They will have buses to transport you to the start line starting at 7am and the last one leaving at 7:45am. Cost: $35 (if you are a CSU student register at the Rec Center and get a $5 discount). Saturday, April 9, 8 a.m., Columbus State University Pioneer Day and Quilt Exhibit Historical re-enactors, craft vendors and demonstrations, food, music, kids activities, and quilts on exhibit with some for sale along with other related craft items. Saturday, April 9, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., 561 AL-165, Historical Fort Mitchell Weapons Carry License Course Have you considered applying for and obtaining your weapons carry license? Are you planning on carrying a firearm for selfdefense purposes? If so, this is the course for you. Ages 14+ are welcome in the event. Saturday, April 9, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., 5351 Sidney Simons Boulevard, Columbus Cookies with the Easter Bunny Hop on over for cookies with the Easter Bunny. Enjoy cookie decorating, face painting, crafts, and pet real bunnies. Photographer on site will provide one electronic copy of an image after the event. Adults are Free, Children $15. Saturday, April 9, 10 a.m., Columbus, Georgia Convention & Trade Center, 801 Front Ave Columbus Group Hike at Providence Canyon State Park Join us for a 3-4 mile hike at Georgia’s famous Little Grand Canyon. We will start our day with an interpretive talk on the history of the canyon, then we will hike to the floor and explore. For more information, please visit the Ocmulgee Outfitters event page on facebook. $10 to hike parking is $5 and a $5 fee to participate in the ranger talk and guided group hike. Dogs are allowed, but must be on a 6-ft leash. Saturday, April 9, 10 a.m., Providence Canyon State Park Block Party Join the fun on this amazing corner of fabulous women owned businesses. Plant Magic Market, Little Bee Creations and Light&Co. With music, additional vendors on-site, food, tarot readings and plenty of great grabs to find. Saturday, April 9, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., 3219 Howard Avenue, Columbus WIM Nutwood Winery Visit Women visiting winery together for a time of fun & laughter. CRR will cover costs of some appetizers, you will be responsible for cost of wine tastings and any additional food desired. Saturday, April 9, 12:30 p.m.,1339 Upper Big Springs Road, Lagrange Easter Cookie Decorating Class You will be given step by step instructions on how to decorate 6 cookies. All the supplies will be given, and no experience is needed. Saturday, April 9, 4 – 6:30 p.m., Harvest Coffee Co., Columbus Caleb Gamble @ AC Hotel The talented and local favorite Caleb Gamble performing live. Saturday, April 9, 6 – 9 p.m., AC Hotel, Columbus REO Speedwagon @ Macon City Auditorium Outback Presents is pleased to announce REO Speedwagon at the Macon City Auditorium. Saturday, April 9, 7:30 p.m., Macon Columbus River Dragons vs Port Huron Prowlers The River Dragons take on Port Huron. Saturday, April 9, 7:30 p.m., Columbus Civic Center CSO Presents Northern Lights Maestro Del Gobbo will transport us to a night in Scandinavia. From “Morning Mood” to “In the Hall of the Mountain King,” LocaL
Grieg’s suite opens with distinct Nordic flair followed by his flourishing piano concerto. Saturday, April 9, 7:30 – 9 p.m., RiverCenter for the Performing Arts, Columbus Astronomy Night at the Coca-Cola Space Science Center The evening will begin with a presentation on the Spring evening skies in our Omnisphere Planetarium, hosted by Dr. Rosa Williams. Saturday, April 9, 8 – 10:30 p.m., Columbus State University’s Coca-Cola Space Science Center, Columbus Heather Gillis Band @ Grants Lounge Guitar player, lap steel player, singer, songwriter, and arranger. You may not know her yet, as you are going to hear a lot about this young lady in the next few years. Saturday, April 9, 9 p.m., Grant’s Lounge, Macon Set Yourself Free w River Flow Yoga In this workshop, we will dive deeply into the yogic philosophy of how to liberate ourselves from conditioning and patterning in order to live at peace and in ease. Sunday, April 10, 1 – 3:30 p.m., River Flow Yoga and Wellness, Columbus Columbus River Dragons Season Finale vs Carolina Thunderbirds The River Dragons conclude their 2021-22 regular season against the Carolina Thunderbirds. Sunday, April 10, 4:30 p.m., Columbus Civic Center Look at Lunchtime Enjoy a short, collaborative conversation about an artwork from the Museum’s collection with Curator of American Art, Jonathon Frederick Walz, Ph.D. Tuesday, April 12, 12:15 p.m., The Columbus Museum Competere Public Reception Join us for the opening reception of Competere: An Exhibition of Artist Couples. Light refreshments will be provided. Friday, April 15, 6 - 8 p.m., The Bo Bartlett Center, Columbus
Bike Night at Rally Point Harley-Davidson It’s that time of year again, come out to bike night at the newly re-named Rally Point Harley Davidson and party with live music by Poison Whiskey and plenty of vendors. All wheels welcome. Friday, April 15, 7 – 10 p.m., Rally Point HarleyDavidson, Columbus Jack Banks Band @ Aces on 80 Friday, April 15th, 8 p.m., Aces on 80, Ladonia Strawberry Festival at Dickey Farms We are excited to announce that we will be hosting our Strawberry Festival again this year. Come out and enjoy this family fun event - we will have strawberry shortcake, homemade ice cream, local vendors, food trucks and more. Saturday, April 16, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Dickey Farms, 3440 Musella Road, Musella Yoga at the Museum De-stress with a yoga class surrounded by art and history. Start with a short mindfulness-focused gallery experience then relax with a gentle, all-level yoga session led by Sue Tomkiewicz. Some yoga mats are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration required. Free for Members / $5 for Future Members. Saturday, April 16, 10:30 a.m., The Columbus Museum The Cuckoo’s Nest Presents: Devil In the Oasis, The Review, No Filter & All It Does Is Die - performing Live. This All Ages Show is just $5. Get advance tickets at getlocaltix.com. Saturday, April 16, 5:30 p.m., tickets also sold at the door, Cuckoo’s Nest Skate Shop, 1326 10th Street, Columbus Shelby Brothers Band on the Stage at River Falls Great local music and good vibes. Saturday, April 16, 8 – 11 p.m., Chattahoochee Brewing, Phenix City Easter Brunch at Denim & Oak Join us for Easter Brunch at Denim & Oak. Featuring a full Continued On p.14 13
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Around Town Continued From p.13 menu of mains, sides, desserts, a mimosa bar, and much more. See event page for full menu details. Adults $70 | Kids 4-12 $33 Last reservation at 4:30pm. For reservations please call 706-223-0207. Sunday, April 17, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Denim & Oak Riverfront Restaurant by Hotel Indigo, Columbus Home Is Where The Art Is Closing Reception Please join us at Highland Galerie for the closing reception of Home Is Where The Art Is. Light refreshments provided. Tuesday, April 19, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m., Highland Galerie, Columbus Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Willy Wonka is opening his marvelous and mysterious chocolate factory...to a lucky few. That includes Charlie Bucket, whose bland life is about to burst with color and confection beyond his wildest dreams. He and four other golden ticket winners will embark on a mesmerizing joyride through a world of pure imagination. Now’s your chance to experience the wonders of Wonka like never before – get ready for Oompa-Loompas, incredible inventions, the great glass elevator, and more, more, more at this everlasting showstopper. Wednesday, April 20, 7:30 p.m., RiverCenter for the Performing Arts, Columbus Spring for the Green Barbecue, bluegrass, beer & wine- Join us on the lawn of the Spencer Environmental Center for family-friendly fun to celebrate another fabulous year of planting, preserving, and protecting trees. Thursday, April 21, 5:30 p.m., Lawn of the Spencer Environmental Center, 303 12th Street,, Columbus Competere: A Talk with Artist Couples Please join us as select artist couples discuss their work and their lives together. Moderated by BBC Interim Director Michael McFalls and artist couple Bo Bartlett and Betsy Eby, selected couples from the Competere exhibition will speak about their art processes and more during this talk. Cash bar open before and during the event. April 21, 6 - 7 p.m., The Bo Bartlett Center, Columbus Museum Alive! Bloom Bash Delight in cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and entertainment as you tour astonishing floral sculptures created and inspired by works in the Museum’s permanent collection. We’re inviting all of our supporters and members of the community to partake in the three-day festivities to experience unique installations of art and flowers, to try your hand at floral arranging, and to raise a toast to the continued success of The Columbus Museum. Thursday, April 21, 6 – 10 p.m., The Columbus Museum Styx @ Macon Centreplex Tickets available online at ticketmaster.com. Tickets start at $49.75 plus applicable taxes and fees. For more information on policies and procedures for attending events, please visit our Safety First Commitment page on our website. This is a normal capacity event. Clear bag policy is in place. Please use caution when purchasing from unauthorized sellers. Thursday, April 21, 7:30 p.m., Macon City Auditorium, Macon Hearsay @ Aces on 80 Friday, April 22, 8 p.m., Aces on 80, Ladonia Georgia Strawberry Festival Celebrating 24 years. This Free family fun event will have a Parade, Arts and Crafts, Food, Kid activities, Fresh Picked Strawberries, Petting Zoo, 5K Race, Inflatables, Antique Tractors, Sand Art,Pie Eating Contest, Ax Throwing, Face Painting, Live Entertainment, Photography Contest, Weenie Dog Race, Fire Truck Pull, Bubbles Over Georgia, Pony Rides, Caricature, Dunking Booth, and more. Free Parking Locations. Vendor Application - Email Maggie at swood5@att.net. Saturday, April 23, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Georgia Strawberry Festival S Winston Street, Reynolds Pasafest Highlighting the cultures of the Southeast. Country, Rock, and Psychedelic music as well as visual artists who are known for LocaL
their Folk and Self-Taught styles. Food vendors, fortune tellers, performers, and much more. Saturday, April 16, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m., Pasaquan, Butler Zion Blues Fest Food and craft vendors. Outside event. Bring a chair. 1848 Zion Episcopal Church will be opened that day for tours. Parking all around Talbotton. Performers: Jontavious Willis, Jayy Hopp, Alabama Mike, Vicki Lynn Maxwell, MARA KAYE, Big Jon Atkinson, Neal Lucas, Skylar Saufley. Tickets will be $15.00 person or $10.00 for 3 or more. Online tickets available at getlocaltix.com. Saturday, April 23, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., Zion Episcopal Church, Talbotton A Guided Garden Stroll What do the boxwood phrases on the first terrace mean? How was the original greenhouse heated? When was the Bird Gate added? Learn the answers to these questions and more on a guided stroll through historic Ferrell Gardens with a member of the Hills & Dales garden staff. $20 per person. Workshop fees include supplies and refreshments. Space is limited and pre-registration is required. Call (706) 882-3242 or email info@hillsanddales.org to register. Saturday, April 23, 10 a.m. – noon. Hills and Dales Estate, LaGrange Paint Party at The Family Center Hello Bigs. Please join us for a fun day of painting. All supplies will be provided. If you would like to attend with your little, please RSVP by April 15,. Call or email 706-327-3238 Ext 119/ egriffin@bbbschattvalley.org. Event by Big Brothers Big Sisters. Saturday, April 23, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., The Family Center, 1350 15th Avenue, Columbus Anger Management Plays @ Aces on 80 Saturday, April 23, 8 p.m., Aces on 80m Ladonia Old 280 Boogie A weekend of festivities with fantastic music, local food vendors, artisans, and great southern vibes. Saturday 4/23 – Old 280 Boogie - 11am-9pm The Sheepdogs, Seratones, Robert Finley, Taylor Hunnicutt, The Pine Hill Haints, Sunday 4/24 – Boogie Brunch -11am–3pm, Caleb Caudle, Larry Mitchell and Band. Limited Tickets Available: Saturday April 23 - $60.00, Sunday April 24 $25.00, Two-Day Pass: $75.00. All Tickets are General Admission. Kids 14 and under Free. Saturday, April 23, 11a – Sunday, April 24, 3 p.m., Standard Deluxe, 1015 Mayberry Avenue, Waverly 2nd Annual Butts Out BBQ & Brews This is a competition to see who can cook up the best BBQ pork butt on a regular household grill or smoker and you get to enjoy a sample of each one. For only $5 per person, you get to sample each and every BBQ teams offering while enjoying some great music on the Phenix City Riverwalk. Saturday, April 23, noon – 5 p.m., Chattahoochee Brewing, Phenix City April Showers at Springer Opera House Sprout and Buzzy Bee are unlikely friends. Buzzy Bee can’t sit still and Sprout can’t grow. He’s the littlest plant in the nursery and has always been a late-bloomer. Little do they know that their friendship will give them both what they need to blossom this Spring. In the McClure Theatre Courtyard at the Springer. April 23 and 30 at 10:00 am, 12:30 pm and 2:00 pm and April 24 and May 1 at 2:00 pm. The Springer Opera House, Columbus An Officer and A Gentlemen Based on the Oscar-winning film, a timeless love story that celebrates triumph over adversity. The new musical features an iconic score including the Grammy and Oscar-winning #1 hit “Up Where We Belong” ( Joe Cocker/Jennifer Warnes), and your favorite 80’s hits. Tuesday, April 26 & 27, 7:30 p.m., RiverCenter for the Performing Arts, Columbus Tuneful Tuesdays An event series by the Schwob School of Music held at the Bo Bartlett Center. Under the center’s skylight, attendees are invited to enjoy music performed by established and student musicians. This event is free and open to the public. Cash bar open before and during the event. April 26, 6 - 7 p.m., The Bo 14
Bartlett Center, Columbus “In Bloom” Floral Inspired Art Show The Gallery at Heritage will be turned into a garden of floral inspired art. With numerous artists for you to admire and shop. General admission is free. VIP tickets & packages available that include early admission, creative photo ops, special parking, a VIP drink Lounge and more. VIP tickets available through getlocaltix. com. VIP Premiere Night Party - Thursday, April 28, 7 - 9 p.m., featuring cash bar and dinner from Warehouse 9. Regular show dates: April 29, 7 - 9 p.m., April 30, 6 - 8 p.m., May 1, 2 - 4 p.m. The Gallery at Heritage, 102 6th Street, Columbus Regional Dance Competition Event by Inspire National Dance Competition. Inspiring and exciting dance competitions and conventions in the Southeastern United States. Register online at www.InspireNDC.com. Friday, April 29, 10 a.m. – Sunday, MAY 1 9 p.m., Columbus, Georgia Convention & Trade Center Steel Magnolias at Springer Opera House “The only thing that separates us from the animals is our ability to accessorize. ” Welcome to Truvy’s Beauty Spot, where six eccentric small-town women prove they are made of steel as they share their hopes, dreams, and tragedies in this beloved celebration of enduring friendship. April 29, 30, May 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, and 14 at 7:30 pm and May 1, 7, and 8 at 2:30 pm. Tickets are on sale now at springeroperahouse.org. 706-327-3688. The Springer Opera House, Columbus Skyler Saufley Plays @ Aces on 80 Friday, April 29, 8 p.m., Aces on 80, Ladonia Pedaling for Kids 11th Annual Gran Fondo Cycling Challenge Scenic country routes boast three well marked distances to choose from. All routes will begin and end at Midland Academy. The course will be well marked with multiple SAG stops and Brickyard Bikes will be providing volunteers and assistance along the way to help with flat tires, etc. End the ride with a mini-massage and stretching provided by licensed Physical Therapists and Massage Therapists as well as freshly smoked BBQ and cold beverages provided by Metro Power. Saturday, April 30, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m., Midland Academy, 7373 Psalmond Road, Midland Strides Against Stigma: Mental Health Matters 5k/1m Race Let us stand together as a community to end the stigma around mental health and to bring awareness. We are encouraging community and district wide participation in this event with the additional option to engage in Team Fundraising. $500 will go to the counseling department of the 3 schools with the most registrations. Register:Runsignup.com. For more information email leighann@teenadvisors.org. Saturday, April 30, 8 a.m. – 10:30 a.m., at Woodruff Park, Columbus 1st Annual Crawfish Boil Let’s Get Craw!! Mark your calendars & join us for a live crawfish boil. Live music starting at 2pm and all the cold beer you can drink. You don’t want to miss this. Saturday, April 30, 2 p.m., Luke’s Pub, Ellerslie First Annual Car and Motorcycle Show This car show will feature 22 classes of vehicle types and include “Best in Show” awards for People’s Choice, Best Paint Job, Best Interior, and Best Sound System. There will be food, vendors, and entrainment for the whole family. All proceeds will go to benefit local children’s charities and programs. Saturday, May 7, 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., presented by the Phenix City Exchange Club, Twin Cities Horse Arena, 3940 Highway 431, Phenix City 9th Annual Mother Son Dance A night of fun, bonding, & creating memories. This dance caters to all audiences & majority school-aged sons. This year will feature 2 amazing DJs! 98.3 The Beat’s very own Dj Cashflow for the mothers & Dj O3 for the sons. We invite
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Around Town Continued From p.14 you all to come out dressed fresh to impress in your formal attire ready to battle. Photo Booths & complimentary appetizers will be on deck. For more information, mothersondancecolga@ gmail.com, (706)223-9654. Saturday, May 7, 6 – 9 p.m., The Eiland’s Event Center, Columbus Cotton Pickin’ Fair We are an arts, crafts, and antiques show. Over 300 artisans from all over the country will gather on our grounds. Gates are open from 9am to 5pm each day. We ask that you do not bring pets for the safety comfort of all our guests. Adult (13 - 64) $10, Senior (65+) $9, Active Duty Military $9, Children (7 - 12) $5, Children (6 and under) Free. Parking is Free in all CPF lots. For more information, please visit our website at www.cpfair.org. Saturday, May 7, 9 a.m. – May 8, 5 p.m., Cotton Pickin’ Fair, 18830 Highway 85, Gay By Donation drop-in - Just Breathe For Kids Join us the first Saturday of every month (except April) for our Donation based drop-in class. In an effort to make all of our Just Breathe for Kids classes accessible to everybody and every body All of the money raised in these classes will go to our Just Breathe for Kids scholarships. Recommended ages 5+. No experience is ever necessary. Saturday, May 7 ,9 – 10 a.m., Just Breathe for Kids, 1365 Warren Williams Rd, Columbus Whiskey Mood Band Plays @ Aces on 80 Saturday, May 7, 8 p.m., Aces on 80, Ladonia Fountain City Mural Tour Experience the creativity of local artists throughout the Bi-City area. These murals tell about local history and also offer encouragement. From bright and vibrant to dark and haunting, these murals will bring out the emotions intended, yet put you in awe to how large they are. A local tour guide will accompany you to share the stories behind each image and answer questions. Over a dozen murals will be featured. Tickets available at getlocaltix.com. For more information email vicinitytours@gmail.com. Every Saturday in May, 10 a.m. noon. Meet up will be at Mildred L Terry Library, event by Vicinity Tours, Columbus Look at Lunchtime Take a break from your normal routine and spend your lunch hour at The Columbus Museum! Enjoy a short, collaborative conversation about an artwork from the Museum’s collection with Curator of American Art, Jonathon Frederick Walz, Ph.D. Tuesday, May 10, 12:15 a.m., The Columbus Museum Uptown’s RiverFest Over 50 food, beverage and arts vendors, along with live music acts throughout the weekend. With easy access to Uptown’s many amenities like the Splash Pad, RushSouth Whitewater Park, Blue Heron Zip Line and more. With Live entertainment from DSOS, Hotter than July, Stevie Wonder Tribute Band, Relative Sound, Eagles Sunrise, Eagles Tribute Band, Play It Again, Luke Bryan Tribute Band. Friday, May 13, 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. and Saturday, May 14, Noon – 10:00 p.m., admission is Free. Woodruff Park Columbus Children’s Book Festival Join us as we welcome Marc Brown, the beloved author of the “Arthur” books and creator of the animated series on PBS; Jarrett J. Krosoczka, author of “Hey, Kiddo”, the Lunch Lady graphic novels & Jedi Academy books; Christian Robinson, illustrator of the Caldecott Honor book, “Last Stop On Market Street”, author 7 illustrator of the NY Times Bestseller “You Matter”, and illustrator of “The Bench” by Meghan, Duchess of Sussex; and Janet Tashjian, author of “Fault Line”, “Tru Confessions” and the wildly popular book series, “My Life As A...”. Saturday, May 14, 10 a.m.- 1 p.m., the Columbus Public Library Pine Mountain Days Arts, Crafts, Food Trucks, Petting Zoo, Pet Adoption. Saturday, May 14, 10 a.m. Pine Mountain Days! Pine Mountain Bluebelles Summer Outdoor Market Join is for a day of fun events. Giveaways, sales, food trucks and over 300 vendors combined.This event is free. Saturday, May 14, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Bluebelles Summer Outdoor Market 2301 Airport Thruway, Columbus LocaL
13th Annual Awards Ceremony & Designer Fashion Show Designer Fashion Extravaganza & Banquet. Saturday, May 14, 5 p.m., By Unique Euphony Publishing & Art Gallery, 4817 Milgen Road,Columbus 2nd Annual Brunch Crawl The one that started it all. The Official, Stock Market Dueling Kitchens, Brunch Crawl. Is exactly what you think it is. You and friends will enjoy brunch from various different spots around town and fun grabs at many local boutiques. It’s the small bites + small business Brunch Crawl. Advance tickets at getlocaltix.com. Tickets are $80 per person. Drink specials will be offered at different locations. Call 706-507-3530 for details. All participants will get their very own brunch crawl t-shirt. Sunday, May 15, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., Stock Market Dueling Kitchens, 1232 Broadway, Columbus Johnny Cash Tribute with Mark Gagnon & Damaged Goods Plays @ Aces on 80 Friday, May 20, 8 p.m, Aces on 80, Ladonia Relative Sound, UNPLUGGED Scruffy Murphy’s Irish Pub A power trio cover band. Covering: Led Zeppelin, ZZ Top, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, Jimi Hendrix, Lynyrd Skynyrd, John Mellencamp, Free, Eddie Money, Tom Petty, Mark Ronson & Bruno Mars, Johnny Cash, Fleetwood Mac, Gary Clark Jr., Pink Floyd, Marcus King, Eric Clapton, Chris Stapleton, The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Neil Young, The Who & more. Friday, May 20, 8:30 – 11:30 p.m., Scruffy Murphy’s Irish Pub, Columbus Yoga at the Museum De-stress with a yoga class at The Columbus Museum, surrounded by art and history. Start with a short mindfulnessfocused gallery experience then relax with a gentle, all-level yoga session led by Sue Tomkiewicz. Some yoga mats are available on a first-come, first-served basis.Registration required. Free for Members / $5 for Future Members. Saturday, May 21, 10:30 a.m., The Columbus Museum Michael Hamrick - Dust Til Dust A full installation exhibit that will be showcased in the Gallery at Heritage. All forms of art media will be there. A glance at the substance of the human soul. Friday May 27, 7 - 9p p.m., Saturday, May 28, 6 - 8 p.m., Sunday, May 29, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., Heritage Art Center, 102 6th Street, Columbus Bugs on the Hooch This three day event is free. An all VW show on the banks of the Chattahoochee River. Camping Friday and Saturday. With a bait shop next door and fun things for the kiddos. The coolest trophies and plaques made by Scumbugs Vintage Vws. Plenty of food concession and a Swap Meet. Civil war cannon will fire off a salvo at high noon Saturday. Call Rick Johnson 706-527-7365. Saturday, May 28, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m., 1002 Victory Dr, Columbus Photography Workshop With S. Andrew Lean more about things like shutter, aperture, ISO, color, B&W, and other items. While we walk around downtown Columbus and the riverwalk to take pictures to practice. $250. Advance tickets at getlocaltix.com. Meet at Fountain City Coffee. Saturday, May 28, 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., S. Andrew Photography Photography Workshop, Columbus Chase the Hooch 1 & 2 Mile Swim Swimmers have the option of a 1 mile downriver swim or for those looking for a challenge a 2 mile swim consisting of 1.5 mile down river and 0.5 mile upriver. River depths are consistently 4-6ft. Participants receive a race specific towel. Food and festivities will be at the finish line. Swim teams are welcome and encouraged. Registration is OPEN at www. tricolumbusga.com. Saturday, June 4, 8 – 10 a.m., Chase the Hooch 1 & 2 Mile Swim, Woodruff Park, Columbus By Donation drop-in at Just Breathe For Kids Join us the first Saturday of every month for our Donation based 16
drop-in class. In an effort to make all of our Just Breathe for Kids classes accessible to everybody and every body All of the money raised in these classes will go to our Just Breathe for Kids scholarships. Recommended ages 5+. No experience is ever necessary. Saturday, June 4, 9 – 10 a.m., Just Breathe For Kids, 1365 Warren Williams Rd, Columbus
The Color Purple This glorious musical adaptation spotlights Celie, a young woman whose personal awakening over the course of 40 years forms the arc of an epic story. With a joyous Tony Awardwinning musical score featuring jazz, ragtime, gospel, African music, and blues, The Color Purple is a story of hope and the healing power of love. Produced on Broadway by Oprah Winfrey and Quincy Jones, A triumphant theatrical treasure. Tickets on sale now at springeroperahouse.org. June 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, and 25 at 7:30 p.m. June 19 & 26 at 2:30 p.m., The Springer Opera House, Columbus Want to see your event listed here? Email:eventsthelocalcolumbus.com
APR I L-MAY 2022
The Film Scout Review
THE BATMAN
By John Houzer
ith so many superhero films out today, it’s W easy to lose track on what’s the latest and greatest. Even I gotta admit, I haven’t been able
much a film about how these characters interact with each other. Greig Fraser, fresh from his Oscar win for ‘Dune,’ provides the absolute beautiful cinematography in
this film. Every shot can be framed and placed on a wall. If there’s anything about this film that made me watch it three times in the cinemas, it’s the music. Every great movie has a great composer, and Michael Giacchino is no exception. The music literally feels like a Batman comic. His dark and bleak tone really sets every scene. Listen, all in all, this is a true BATMAN movie. Yeah, Michael Keaton is iconic and Christian Bale
to keep up with all the films that were coming out. If anything, I think we can all agree that if there was any film we were all waiting to see, it was ‘Spiderman: No Way Home.’ And after the dust settled and half of America was done watching the latest Marvel entry, a few months later DC comics released their next big
blockbuster with ‘The Batman.’ The Batman, directed by Matt Reeves, brings a much darker take on the caped crusader. Inspired by films like ‘Se7en’ and ‘Zodiac,’ this film feels straight out of a comic book. Robert Pattinson, who at this point has become one of the better actors working in Hollywood today, plays The Batman. Pattinson is unrecognizable in this role and it would be a disservice to only bring up his Twilight heyday. That time has gone and passed, and he’s put out A-list acting talent since. Don’t believe me? Watch A24’s ‘Good Time,’ or my personal favorite’ The Lighthouse.’ This film is stacked with a fantastic cast, featuring Zoë Kravitz as Selina Kyle aka Catwoman, Colin Farrell as Penguin, and Paul Dano The Riddler. But this film isn’t about the cast – Matt Reeves really details the story in such a way that always keeps you engaged. This is very LocaL
is great, but this feels as close to a Batman film as you can get. The Batman clocks in at 3 hours, which admittedly felt a little too long. A half hour or so could have been cut, but that’s my only criticism. It’s easy to compare this film to its predecessors, but I really enjoyed this take. This is a movie that deserves to be watched on the big screen and I can’t wait to see what Matt Reeves does with this property. This ones definitely a 10/10. Make sure you go see while it’s still in theaters.u
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The Industrial
Archeology of Columbus 1828 - 1865 (Part ii) Contributed by Historic Columbus
n the fall of 1865, the Freedmen’s Bureau became active in Imuch administering the land program in Georgia and returned African American labor to the fields, mediating a
contract-labor system between white landowners and their Black workers, many of whom they formerly enslaved. Field work—once the province of entire Black families—was transformed as the freedwomen withdrew their labor and their children’s labor to the household. Both children and adults began to take advantage of educational opportunities, usually offered by teachers from the North. Some formerly enslaved individuals and families were flocking to towns, where they encountered overcrowding
and a shortage of food. A large number of Black Georgians fell prey to epidemic diseases. Meanwhile, on farms and plantations that had depended on enslaved labor, harvests were small, with poor planning and miserable weather further diminishing them. From the 1870s to the 1950s, thousands of rural African Americans migrated to Columbus to build a better life. The town still desperately needed a revival of its many industries. The iron foundries recovered first. Men who had learned iron working during the war continued in the business. In 1860, the city had only two foundries; by 1870, it had eight. The Columbus Iron Works, the largest iron producer, manufactured a full range of small cast iron items, but their most important products came from the expertise gained during the war. They made a large variety of steam engines and even steamboats. After several unsuccessful attempts, it helped to manufacture an ice machine in 1872. By the 1880s, the Iron Works manufactured these machines in large numbers and sold them to ice houses, dairies, and hospitals. By the early 1870s, Columbus factories and shops manufactured rope, jute bagging, cottonseed oil, carriages, furniture, and cigars. Bricks and lager beer were produced across the river in Girard. Unique for a medium-sized southern city was the extensive chemical laboratory of J.S. Pemberton. He LocaL
employed chemists and pharmacists who distilled a whole range of pharmaceuticals, patent medicines, hair restorers, perfumes, paints, photographic chemicals, and a great variety of sparkling soda water (such as French Wine of Coca which evolved into Coca-Cola when he moved to Atlanta in 1880). Columbus’ chief industry was, of course, the textile mills – which had all been burned during the war.. Clapp’s Factory resumed first, as early as December 1865. In 1867 and 1868, two of Columbus’ most significant textile mills would be formed – The Eagle & Phenix and Muscogee Manufacturing Company. During the 1870s, textile manufacturing expanded more rapidly in Columbus than in any other southern city, even though only two companies occupied the Columbus riverfront sites. Muscogee Manufacturing Company (1867) utilized one lot, while the Eagle and Phenix (1866) --the South’s largest mill in the late l870s--eventually controlled the other eighteen lots. In 1997, plans for the international headquarters of TSYS were developed for the Muscogee Mills site. TSYS worked diligently with local, state, and federal preservation groups to develop a plan respecting the history of the area. The new campus would incorporate a stabilized Mott House (later destroyed by fire in 2014) and elements of the Carnegie Library into a new plaza area on the river. A new parking structure similar in architectural design to one of the former mill buildings was also constructed. The city and Historic Columbus partnered to move and save four historic structures that would be impacted by the campus. This move became known as the 1998 Parade of Homes. William H. Young, with the help of N.J. Bussey and young G. Gunby Jordan, reestablished what had been the Eagle mill. Quite appropriately, they added the name phoenix, the mythical Egyptian bird which rose from its own ashes. Mill No. l (10,000 spindles and 135 looms) of the
reorganized Eagle and Phenix Manufacturing Company began operating in 1868. During the 1870s the company expanded more rapidly than any other southern textile firm, adding Mill No. 2 (15,000 spindles and 350 looms) in 1871 and Mill No. 3 (20,000 spindles and 800 looms) in 1878. 18
By 1880, the Eagle and Phenix led the South in the value of its textile product ($1,500,000). Visitors to Columbus, especially during the 1881 Atlanta Exposition, marveled at the company’s size and diversified products (144 different
styles of cotton and woolen goods). Mill owners financed and built housing for workers, the archetypical “mill town.”. Some owners also began to provide schools, entertainment, and churches. Entertainment throughout the latter half of the 1800s included a yearly picnic hosted for mill workers where the Eagle and Phenix Brass Band played for the crowd. These picnics were a very big deal at the time. The tactics of offering housing, savings, schools and churches were seen by business leaders as a way to keep families committed to working for the mills, but also offered some stability. However, the work hours were long, the job monotonous, noisy and dangerous, and mill owners held tight control over the mill workers’ lives. In 1880, Eagle and Phenix employed 213 children, 555 men, and 917 women.
In 1896, the mill went into receivership and was purchased by G. Gunby Jordan. One of Mr. Jordan’s investors was W. C. Bradley. In 1915, W. C. Bradley became president and APR I L-MAY 2022
owned the Eagle & Phenix Mill from then until 1947. In December of 2003 the mill property was repurchased by W. C. Bradley Co. The W.C. Bradley Co. Real Estate Division is revitalizing the complex through the adaptive re-use of the site as condominiums, apartments, restaurants, and offices.
The modern Bradley Company began as a cottonfactoring business, Bussey-Goldsmith and Company, which W. C. Bradley and his brother-in-law Samuel A. Carter bought in the late 1880s. They changed the firm’s name to Carter and Bradley and expanded the firm’s business to include the manufacturing of fertilizer and the retailing of groceries. In 1895, Carter sold his portion of the company to Bradley, who changed its name to the W. C. Bradley Company. Over the next thirty years, Bradley further diversified his holdings by investing in banks, textile mills, steamboats, farms, Coca-Cola, and the Columbus Iron Works. The W.C. Bradley Company eventually became the owner of the entire two blocks. Today, the W.C. Bradley Co. is comprised of four companies focused on home and leisure products and services. These include the W.C. Bradley Real Estate,
LLC, Zebco Brands, Char-Broil, and Lamplight. Over the past thirty years, the company has restored many buildings in town.. Established in 1854, Empire Mills, a steam-powered grist mill, was the city’s largest from 1875 to 1890 under the proprietorship of George Waldo Woodruff. The company’s proximity to the riverboat landing allowed it to supply flour, meal, and other products for the river trade to the agricultural areas south of the city. The grist mill closed in 1931, but the Empire Company continued to sell brick, ice, and coal there. The northern buildings of the complex
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(including the antebellum grist mill) were demolished by the early 1970s. During the summer of 1977, Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) planners studied the remaining structures and suggested possible adaptive uses. The mill is one of the earliest examples of adaptive re-use in Columbus. It was renovated and expanded in 1980 to become a convention hotel for the new Columbus Convention and Trade Center across the street. In the late 19th century, the Eagle and Phenix played a dominant role in the city’s economic life. When the 1873 depression struck, the company issued currency which was the only circulating medium in the area. A
New York merchant advertised to exchange his dry goods for $100,000 worth of this Eagle and Phenix scrip. When telephones were installed in 1880, the Eagle and Phenix was assigned telephone numbers 1 and 2. Even the city’s political factions split according to those who supported the leadership at the Eagle and Phenix and those who opposed it. The leader of the anti-Eagle and Phenix faction, R.J. Moses, readily admitted, however, that without William H. Young Columbus would be a “dead town.” To access the full history visit www.historiccolumbus. com/blog and ALL of Historic Columbus’ History and Preservation Spotlights. As well as Tuesdays With Justin here: Historic Columbus (GA) - YouTubeu
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