The LocaL, August 2018

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August 2018

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August 2018

STUFF TO READ Am I a Lil Bit Crazy?

The Springer Film Institute In Conversation with Bo Bartlett “YOUNG LIFE” UPSTREAM Local Authors

Spark Summer Reading

Goetchius House Run Like a Girl COCKTAIL CLUB

Letter from the Editor

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olumbus is a colorful town.

Back in February, we featured local artist Ralph Frank on our cover. I live a block from Ralph, and I had been familiar with much of his work—his work graced the walls of Fountain City Coffee (1007 Broadway) prior to the ongoing Garry Pound exhibition, for example.

But after we printed the February issue, I began to see Ralph’s handiwork all over town. His unique touch can be see on every conceivable kind of surface in Columbus, and once you recognize his lettering style, his sign work pops out at you no matter where you travel through the Fountain City.

Our community is replete with public art. Some of it is the work of major artists. The Together 2017 murals project, presented through ArtBeat 2018, introduced murals from renown area artists Najee Dorsey, Butch Anthony and R.C. Hagans, Garry Pound, and Sally Bradley, all celebrating life in the Chattahoochee Valley through their work. These four murals beautifully contribute to the ever-growing and community-enhancing public art in our city.

What I love most about public art is its availability. I do not mean accessibility; The Columbus Museum and Bo Bartlett Center, among others, make stunning art accessible to everyone who lives in or visits Columbus, and I am beyond grateful for those institutions. But public art, like the massive Hense mural at 1211 Broadway in Uptown, are there to be encountered—as you leave Nonic (1239 Broadway), maybe, and walk toward the RiverWalk, there it is, covering the entire side of the building, a wall of color and creative geometry. I love watching people respond to it. Don’t we all have a picture of ourselves and friends with this mural as the backdrop?

Another and more subtle favorite of mine is a more recent addition to our public canvas. Walking west on 11th Street, on the block before you find yourself on Broadway, if you turn around after passing MaBella’s Italian Steakhouse (14 West 11th Street), you’ll see it: a playful little mural on the side of the building with the word “Say” next to a cheesecake on a fork. It’s a delightful play on words, and much like the Hense mural, it has become a popular Uptown photo-op.

There are many more instances of public art, of course.

Maybe someone should create a database of Columbus public art, so visitors to the Fountain City can tour them.

And I haven’t even mentioned graffiti—and I would love to know the origin of “The Clash” inscription on the south wall of Evelyn’s Cafe (2601 Hamilton Road). The point is, we have so much art in our public spaces, the deluge can seem overwhelming.

What great luck to be overwhelmed with art. I hope we continue to add to our local palate, to cover every available space with beauty. I know Ralph Frank is with me on this, and so I can’t be too far off base when I say: thank you for all of the art; let’s have some more.

Thank you for reading.

t hel o cal co l u mbu s . co m f acebo o k . co m/ t hel o cal co l u mbu s g a

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 ads@thelocalcolumbus.com

EDITOR

Tom Ingram editor@thelocalcolumbus.com

LAYOUT & DESIGN

Mat Cornett

CONTRIBUTORS & CREDITS

Bobbie Yeo Joe Miller Richard Edwards April Norris Matt Szabo Molly Wright Adelaide Merritt

COVER PHOTOGRAPHY Amanie Bussey Subject Kara

Tom Ingram Editor LocaL

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August 2018

Humane PAWS So c iety

Am I a Lil Bit Crazy?

You Either Like them

or You Don’t

By April Norris

fter more than six years in the field I’ve come to the conclusion that there is nothing more controversial in companion animal welfare than the problem A of unowned cats. These guys are everywhere and from what I can tell there are

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n my twenties I lived in a particularly vital organ of Columbus simply known as “Downtown.” It’s a warm place where you can see the blend of government and artists as they share their mutual love and hate. It was during this time I met a funny southern belle from Harris County who told me we were kindred spirits. Naturally, I waited twenty years to get to know her.

I searched for the ever elusive Lil Bit, a nickname she earned at age 18, and found her stepping out of the elevator doors of The Loft ready for her 7 p.m. show wearing a floppy red hat, green dress and mirrored sunglasses.

There I was, reflected in those sunglasses, just a few years younger than her and thinking, “she is my hero.” It’s always nice to know you’re in good company with people renown for being genuine, and Lil Bit is as genuine as the two identities she wears with balance. By day she is all business, but on Thursday nights she takes a microphone, welcomes the audience with a raspy southern drawl, and gives us a lil bit of her own talent in the art of comedy. Her duality is an important part of who she is, a part of her performance, so I’ll only print her stage name. Also, the bartender informed me Lil Bit would kill me if I told people her real name.

It had taken me weeks to find the only female comedian I know of in town, and only by accident did I meet her son, Beauregard, who gave me the information I needed to get a one-on-one conversation about why and how she got into a business that so few women get involved in. She is the mother of two sons: Beauregard, a CSU student and avid golfer, and Coleman, her 16year-old with special needs, who I knew from my teaching career. I couldn’t believe the similarities in mine and Lil Bit’s background and influences. Carol Burnett, of course, was a heavyweight. I asked if she did road comedy.

“I’m not a traveling comedian. However, I have been asked by headliners to open for their shows in South Carolina, Tennessee, Atlanta. Most of the time I was the only female,” she said, and explained about how she had studied comedy in Atlanta under the instruction of Jeff Justice in 2010. It was a sixweek comedy workshop that taught her “how to be on stage.”

I asked her if people can be taught to be funny. She didn’t think so, but she did say her graduation from the workshop was performing at the Punchline Comedy Club and the stage practice was worth the time and money. Of Jeff Justice, she said, “I had to meet the man at the Holiday Inn and thought, ‘this better not be a pervert.’ Thank God he wasn’t.”

Back in Columbus, Lil Bit began working with Bear O’Brien on WFKD 94.5. She has hosted comedy night at The Loft for 8 years, and has been doing standup for over twenty. We agreed on many of the same things: we both love the moon; we believe there should be more live platforms for the spoken word / self express, especially with the healing properties of laughter; and the importance of improving delivery with the direction of uniting rather than dividing the room. Oh, and I hang out with Bear every Tuesday morning!

I asked how people can support the effort to provide more outlets for live entertainers. She said, “show up, be a presence.” Our similarities were almost spooky, and if there’s a crazy train, I’m proud to be on it with Lil Bit. She’s a “proud mamma,” makes others feel welcome, and manages her time without compromising her truth.

See Lil Bit perform Thursday nights at The Loft, for the early or late show.

I like to stick around for both. u

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two distinct, and diametrically opposed, human responses to them.

One camp goes to great lengths to provide clean water, food, and shelter for an adopted colony. If this individual has enough money and access to affordable veterinary care, he or she will have the cats spayed or neutered. If the cats are not altered these compassionate caregivers will find themselves tending an ever-growing herd of felines.

In just one year a pair of adult cats can produce up to three litters of kittens. A typical litter will yield 3 – 5 kittens and these will go on to produce even more. It doesn’t take a mathematician to realize the situation is going to get out of hand very quickly. Pretty soon neighbors will be on the phone to animal control as kitties spill over into their yards.

I love cats but I also understand the plight of unsuspecting neighbors who don’t want cats digging in their gardens or yowling in the middle of the night.

For them, these cats are a nuisance, interfering with the quiet enjoyment of their property. They ask for government intervention without getting into the details of what that entails. Unfortunately, the “go to” for local government is trap and kill, and who wants to claim they are a proponent of that?

The Best Friends Animal Society operated a Community Cat Program in Columbus for three years. The City of Columbus was an active partner in saving the lives of over 2,000 cats each year. The program effectively eliminated the euthanasia of healthy or treatable cats. When the grant ended last September Paws Humane Society took over the program thanks to a generous grant from the Petco Foundation and donations from local citizens.

Trap and kill has been used for decades and clearly has not worked.

Unowned cat populations have only grown at an exponential rate. When cats are permanently removed new cats come into the colony and the birthrates actually increase to fill the void. It is a natural biological mechanism that thwarts efforts to eliminate a colony.

Current research suggests that spay/neuter of a large enough percentage of the population will stabilize a colony so that, over a period of years, it will eventually die out. Cats are trapped, neutered and returned to their original location. This process is commonly referred to as TNR. It is a humane solution that works when done right. The Paws Humane Society Community Cat Program is designed according to best practices developed over many years in various locations across the country. We already see it working to reduce unowned cat populations in Columbus neighborhoods.u

Bobbi Yeo lives in Opelika, AL. She is the CEO of PAWS Humane in Columbus, GA, an animal shelter and veterinary clinic offering low-cost spay/neuter and other services to the public.

Email her at byeo@pawshumane.org with your comments and story ideas.

Adoption Hours Mon-Fri•10am-6pm, Sat•10am-5pm, Sun•12pm-5pm 4900 Milgen Road Columbus, GA 31907 www.pawshumane.org office@pawshumane.org (706) 565-0035 Vet Clinic phone number (706) 987-8380

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August 2018

The Springer Film Institute is excited to announce the wide variety of workshops in their Fall Sessions. If you are just starting out, have some experience, or are just curious about the film industry in general, then there is a workshop for you. Go to www.springerfilm.org to register. Questions? Call 706-324-5714 x 270 or email director@springerfilm.org FALL SESSION I: Voiceover: Audiobooks and Animation - $375 Tuition ($150 deposit) 5 Week Workshop Series. Thursdays 6p-8p Aug. 9, 16, 23, 30, Sept.6 Students learn techniques to use their expressive voices to work in animation, audiobooks and commercials.

Screenwriting: Save the Script! - $350 Tuition ($150 deposit) $350 Tuition. $150. Deposit 6 Week Workshop Series. Saturdays 10a-12p Aug.11- Sept. 15 Learn how to create a story and turn it into a commercially-viable film or tv show.

Film Editing: The Chopping Block - $450 Tuition ($150 deposit) 6 Week Workshop Series. Saturdays 5p-7p Aug. 11- Sept.15 Learn to use standard industry editing software and attain the superpower of telling a story through editing.

Intermediate Acting for the Camera - $375 Tuition ($150 deposit) 6 Week Workshop Series. Saturdays 1p-4p August 11-Sept. 15 For more experienced actors. Must have completed Beginners Acting for the Camera, Acting, Agents & Auditions, or have film experience.

Filmmaker 101 - So, you Wanna Make a Movie? - $450 Tuition ($150 deposit) 6 Week Workshop Series. Sundays 1p-4p Aug. 12-Sept. 16 A hands-on course for emerging filmmakers. Students will shoot a film and learn every aspect of how a film set operates.

FALL SESSION II:

Voiceover: Get Heard in Audiobooks and Animation - $325 Tuition ($150 deposit) 5 Week Workshop Series. Wednesdays 6p-8p Sept. 26, Oct. 3, 10, 17, 24 Students learn techniques to use their expressive voices to work in animation, audiobooks and commercials.

Beginners Acting for the Camera - $375 Tuition ($150 deposit) 6 Week Workshop Series. Thursdays, 6p-9p Sept.27-Nov. 1 An introduction to the fundamentals of acting for film and television. No acting or film acting experience required.

Chroma key THIS! $450 tuition ($150 deposit) 6 Week Workshop Session. Saturdays 10a-12p Sept.29-Nov. 10 (No class Oct.6) Learn how to create video magic with the Springer’s giant infinity green screen wall and indus-try-standard software. Transport your story anywhere!

Acting, Agents & Auditions - $375 Tuition ($150 deposit) 6 Week Workshop Series. Saturdays 1p-4p Sept. 29- Nov.10 (No Class Oct.6) Learn the tools to become a successful actor in the industry. From nailing the audition to get-ting an agent, this class will give you the skills to start your career off strong.

In the Biz - Tuition $400.00 5 Week Series. Saturdays 5p-7p Sept. 29- Nov. 3 (No Class Oct. 6) Professional seminar. Each week, a different screenwriter, director, producer, casting director, agent or actor shares their insights on their aspect of the industry. Students interact with top pros.

YouFilm! Production and Promotion for Web Content - $400 Tuition ($150 Deposit) 5 Week Workshop Series. Sundays 1p-4p Sept. 30- Nov. 4 (No class on Oct.7) Fame and Fortune await those who create original shows for the web and promote it effec-tively. This course provides the tools to be your own producer – now! u LocaL

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enjoy light refreshments and relish some incredible local and regional art. For questions and more information, call the gallery at (706) 225-0139, or email info@leighandpaige.com Aug. 23, 6:30 - 8 p.m., Leigh & Paige Fine Art, 1309 Wildwood Avenue, Columbus

Young Art Patrons Acquisition Party

Contemporary artist Jarrett Key comes to the Columbus Museum to create a work on site that will be acquired through the YAP’s fundraising efforts to add to the Museum’s collection. Key has close Columbus ties as a native of rural Alabama and graduate of Brookstone School. He left the south to attend Brown University. Since moving to New York, Key has been featured in performances, biennales, residencies, publications, exhibitions and workshops at NYU Tisch, Dancing on the Edge of the Abyss: galleries in Brooklyn, Chelsea, LES, Harlem, Boston, Ljubljana and Shanghai.

Abstraction by African American Women Key’s work is in the collections of the Schomburg Center, MoMa Library, The Artists in The Cochran Collection Wes and Missy Cochran of LaGrange, Georgia, have been acquiring works by Metropolitan Museum of Art Library, among other institutions. Those who American masters of printmaking for more than 40 years. During that time, donate $50 or more toward the acquisitions are invited to a private reception they have generously shared aspects of their collection with other communities prior to the performance. To make a donation or join the Young Art Patrons around the country from Cleveland to Baton Rouge. Organized by Curator of Affiliate group, please contact Carmen Overton at coverton@columbusmuseum.

American Art Jonathan Frederick Walz, Ph.D. and Columbus State University com or (706) 748-2562 ext. 542. Aug. 24, 6:30 - 8 p.m., Young Art Patrons, alumnus Isaac Sabelhaus, this project presents a new selection of over two The Columbus Museum, 1251 Wynnton Road, Columbus dozen infrequently seen works on paper by 18 different women. These artists Workshop: remained true to their vision of exploring abstract imagery, even when art world Exploration in Mixed Media with Shelley Helms Fleishman forces deemed figurative or nature-based pictures more marketable or more Learn techniques for creating texture and depth using a variety of papers, relevant. Ranging from an intimate untitled watercolor by Alma Thomas to the pastes, paints, pencils, and inks. Artist provides all supplies for a three to four print Kyoto Positive/Negative by Howardena Pindell, the pieces in the exhibition hour class using composition planning, color mixing, and layer application bear witness to each of their maker’s singular imaginations. through Aug. 19, to create interesting (and beautiful!) abstract works. Leave with a completed Yarborough Gallery, The Columbus Museum, 1251 Wynnton Road, Columbus 20x20 canvas work, suitable for hanging. Limited to 12 students. Cost is $115 and includes all supplies. Call to sign up: (706) 225-0139 Aug. 25, noon - 4 Fort Benning at 100 In connection with the regionwide celebration of Fort Benning’s centennial p.m., Leigh & Paige Fine Art, 1309 Wildwood Avenue, Columbus year, Fort Benning at 100 spotlights the base’s history in the Columbus Phenix Guest Lecture: Stephen Davis City area. Artifacts from the Museum’s permanent collection, including many Dr. Stephen Davis, historian and recipient of the Georgia Author of the Year recent acquisitions, will illuminate the post’s founding in the fall of 1918 and Award for History, is a leading expert on the Atlanta Campaign. He will discuss early development before its explosive growth during World War II. through his latest research on this pivotal series of battle in the Civil War. Aug. 30, 7 March 2019, Legacy Gallery, The Columbus Museum, 1251 Wynnton Road 10 p.m., National Civil War Museum, 1002 Victory Drive, Columbus

Match-Ups: Networks on Paper Dialogue

Want to see your event listed here? Email events@thelocalcolumbus.com

This exhibition presents a selection of prints, drawings, and photographs that were donated to The Columbus Museum in the past two and a half years.

Displayed in pairs or trios, these works on paper affirm and extend art historian Heinrich Wölfflin’s belief that bringing objects together, rather than studying them individually and without context, draws attention to similarities and differences in subject, media, and style. These visual parallels and disparities then help produce a more complex understanding of human cultural production.

July 7 through Nov. 11, 2018, Woodruff Gallery, The Columbus Museum, 1251 Wynnton Road, Columbus

Summer Art Classes

Perfect for beginner and continuing students, ages 5 to seventeen. For more information, call (334) 480-2008. Aug. 7, 3:30 p.m., The Sarah West Gallery of Fine Art, 2750 Lee Road 430, Smiths Station

T.A.G. (Teen Advisory Group)

Tag, you’re it! Calling all tweens and teens to help the Library create exciting programs. Meet new people and enjoy a snack. Aug. 14, 5 p.m., Mildred L. Terry Public Library, 640 Veterans Parkway, Columbus

Portrait Drawing Classes for Youth Art Students

Fundamental Portrait Classes for Youth Art Students will debut this August, with after-school studio sessions made available to aspiring young artists. For more information and enrollment, call (334) 480-2008.

Live Demonstration with Mosaic Artist Enid Probst

Join Leigh and Paige Fine Art Gallery for a live demonstration. The mosaic artist visits Columbus from Montgomery. Mix and mingle with the artist, LocaL

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August 2018

In Conversation with Bo Bartlett

painting, which was the era I grew up in. So you see mud that’s splattered, blood on the pants and on the hands from the deer. The innocence of the deer—so it’s sort of about this loss of innocence.

My voice recording application unexpectedly cut out at this point, so I started a new recording.

TI: Here we go, part three.

BB: We didn’t really need to go on about my dad.

TI: Always helps to have more. I’d rather have too much than too little information.

BB: Lee Harvey Oswald was the set up for this pose, the famous photo of him holding the rifle, which was proof that he was the person who shot JFK. If there was proof. But yeah, the innocence, the loss of innocence, the deer being one of the most innocent creatures.

TI: They have this sort of arc, a kind of halo.

BB: Right, it makes it sort of like a Holy Family, like a religious thing. If you know the painting at the [Columbus] Museum of “Homecoming,” it feels almost like a religious ritual of some sort, and football is like that in the South, it’s almost a religion.

TI: Yeah, I grew up here, we’re Alabama fans. I understand, it becomes religious at times.

BB: It’s very tribal, ya know. Whether your Auburn or Georgia or Georgia Tech or Alabama, and it’s all, we choose our sides.

TI: People get insane about these things. I mean, I like watching a game, but my goodness.

BB: So it’s like a Holy Family in a way. Young Life was on his t-shirt. You can see, still sort of barely see it. I took it off because it was too much right in your face, so I painted over it, but then I let it become the title. The deer’s tail is in the frame.

TI: Is this a CB&T cap that he’s wearing?

BB: It is, yep. So it’s very Columbus related. We actually went up, Otis [Scarborough, his brother-in-law mentioned in an earlier part of the interview] took me up to this hillside where he was gonna do a development—it might be, actually, at the time it felt like it was way out in the country, but it might be where Old Town is now.

TI: Twenty years ago that was way out in the country.

BB: Wild. He took me up on a rise and said, “we’re gonna do a development here.” This was just wide open country. A couple of trees had been cut down, and I liked the relationship between the cutting down or taking of life. I liked looking out way into the distant horizon, because as a kid, up above Red Lobster [on 13th Street] that’s where my house was, that’s where we still live, that was all a field, all the way down to the where the dance studio now is. That was all woods when I was growing up, then at some point they started to take the trees out and so it became a field. That field is where most of my paintings are set.

I live in this neighborhood, and at this point Bo and I share landmark details about where we live, which I will omit for various reasons.

BB: So I take the trees out and make it feel like another time, a timeless place.

TI: Speaking of things on shirts. I wasn’t going to talk about this painting, even though it’s actually one of my favorites, but Leviathan.u

“Young Life” Part three of our casual interview with Bo Bartlett finds Bo talking more about growing up, his father, and college football.

Tom Ingram: Why don’t we move over here and talk about “Young Life;” what do you think?”

Bo Bartlett: So many of these paintings are Columbus-based, which is why I feel perfectly comfortable with them living [at The Center] with this being their permanent home. This was my father’s pickup truck. My nephew, Grant Scarborough, who runs MercyMed, that’s him posed there with his girlfriend at the time, who I morphed into another model later. My youngest son, Elliot, posed.

But it’s sort of me, Elliot was a sort of version of me as a child, and the others are sort of my sister and her boyfriend. Her boyfriend would go deer hunting and bring the deers to our house and drag them through the living room in a box or on a piece of cardboard— At this point, Bo says hello to two visitors to The Center.

—so, that was my dad’s pickup. He was a furniture designer, that’s what he did, that’s why a lot of the wooden frames are related to the fact that he was a woodworker. His father owned—where the Uhaul business is now over near the railroad tracks?—that was the Columbus Picture Manufacturing Company back in the day. They were the largest fixture and furniture manufacturer in the southeast.

When a bank would open or a department store, in Atlanta or Montgomery or Birmingham or someplace, they would design it. My dad did all the designing. They would ship everything over and install it. They also made a lot of furniture. That’s what I remember him doing when I was growing up. But at some point his father passed away and he sold the business—and didn’t do anything for quite a while. A friend of his was a harvester dealer, and he would go over in the mornings and hang out and drink coffee. Eventually he wound up trying to sell a few trucks with them, and he was actually pretty good at it. Then he wound up with Bill Heard for a while.

Anyway, that’s the way he spent the rest of his working life, I think mainly just because he liked interacting with people. Sold a lot of the vans for Tom’s Peanuts and all that. So this was his truck. But you know, to get back to the painting, the gun and this pose, if you hold the app up, you’ll see it’s Lee Harvey Oswald’s pose with his rifle, when he went and shot JFK. So there’s a darker undercurrent of the LocaL

By Tom Ingram

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August 2018

World Cup of Cinema

No Shame Theatre

At 10:30 every Friday night, the Springer plays host to No Shame Theatre.

No Shame Theatre is an uncensored evening of original performance that allows anyone to explore their creative potential. Signup begins at 10 p.m., and the first 15 to sign up get a five-minute time slot to perform their original material. Admission is $5, including for performers. Every Friday, Springer Opera House, 103 10th Street, Columbus, (706) 324-5714

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Final Round: France Wins Again!

s we all know, France “beat” a far superior Croatian team last month in the finals of the World Cup of soccer, thanks to two goals handed to them by bad referee calls. But in the World Cup of Cinema, the French need no such help. They are the undisputed champions.

Movies were born in France in the late 19th century when Auguste and Louis Lumière invented the movie camera. First they pointed it at everyday scenes like workers leaving a factory and train arriving at a station. Then, quite by accident, they created cinematic language: they were filming one day when they stopped the camera and the person they were filming stepped out of the frame. They began filming again, and when they projected the film, it looked as though the subject had disappeared! Then they experimented with splicing different shots together – voilà – they had the means to tell a story. Their fellow countryman Georges Méliès seized on the new art form and was soon taking audiences as far as the imagination can travel with films like A Trip to the Moon, The Conquest of the Pole, and The Haunted Castle.

In the century and decades since, France has steadily produced an outsized proportion of the greatest films and filmmakers in the world. Just to name a few: Jean Vigo, Jean Renoir (whose The Rules of the Game is often cited as the greatest film of all time), Robert Bresson, Agnés Varda (who I wrote about in my first column), Jean-Luc Godard, Alain Resnais and François Truffaut. (You can find great films by all of them on both Kanopy and FilmStruck.)

With such an august film history, it’s tempting to assume that the best French films are in the past. But French filmmakers are still doing great work.

My current favorite is Olivier Assayas, who I first discovered in the late 1990s, with his Irma Vep. The title is an anagram of “vampire,” and it’s about a great

Crown and Comedy at The Loft

Two comedy shows every Thursday night, from 7 - 8:30 p.m. and 9 - 10:30 p.m., with new comedians every week and hosted by our very own Lil Bit. Enjoy $7 Crown Royal and ordering from the full menu. Ensure seats by buying tickets at theloft.com. Every Thursday, The Loft, 1032 Broadway, Columbus

Mellow Movie Night

This month’s film selection is the 1988 live-action/animated fantasy classic, Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Aug. 5, 6 - 9 p.m., Mellow Mushroom, 6100 Veterans Parkway, Columbus

Single in the City Comedy Show

1on1 Entertainment presents “Single in the City” Comedy Show Hosted by the hilarious Kiana Dancie of “Sister Circle Live”, “Who’s Got Jokes” Boune TV, “Off the Chain”, and Montreal Comedy Festival. With comedians Reggie Jackson “Universoul”; Ms. B Bounce TV “Off the Chain”; Crystal Powell Kevin Hart’s “Hart of the City”; and Sweet Baby Kita Winner of Apollo 2018, and Kevin Hart’s “Hart of the City”. Tickets $37.50 Balcony Seating, $47.50 Orchestra Seating and $57.50 VIP Meet and Greet after party including Swag bag with gifts. VIP Meet and Greet will follow the Comedy Show.

Aug. 11, 7 - 11 p.m., Springer Opera House, 103 10th Street, Columbus

Way Down Film Society

Enjoy a pre-film meet-and-greet, movie screening and post-screening conversation.

Feel free to bring food and drink of your choice; the room is a comfortable classroomstyle set up with tables and chairs, so you can eat dinner and watch the movie. Aug. 15, 6 p.m., Troy University on the Chattahoochee, 1510 Whitewater Way, Phenix City

Proud Ladies - World Premier

Broadway star Kurt Peterson will return to Columbus to collaborate with the Springer Opera House production team on the development of a new multi-media musical revue, Proud Ladies, a glittering song and dance celebration of Broadway’s legendary female superstars, including Katherine Hepburn, Patti LuPone, Bernadette Peters, Angela Lansbury and Ethel Merman. Aug. 17, 7:30 - 9:30 p.m., Springer Opera House, 103 10th Street, Columbus

Teen Hip Hop Dance Off Auditions

Tadow Entertainment is hosting the 1st Annual Teen Hip Hop Dance Off. Ages 9 to seventeen. Categories are solo, duos and group (3 - 5 members). Aug. 19, Columbus Public Library, 3000 Macon Road, Columbus

The Mic Drop: Kids Open Mic

French director who’s making a modern vampire film with a Chinese actress in the lead. Even in this early work, his mastery of camera movement and editing is apparent, as well as his ability to draw stellar performances from his actors.

Both films can be found on Amazon, along with several others, most notably Personal Shopper and Clouds of Sils Maria, both of which star Kristen Stewart.

In the first she plays a medium who comes into contact with the spirit of her

Are you a poet or an artist? Maybe you’re an awesome dancer, singer, rapper, actor, or even a comedian. Forget that stage fright and show us your STAR power! Sign up to perform your talent on stage at Mic Drop, an open mic event just for kids. Even if you don’t perform, come for the snacks and show some support for your talented peers.

Sept. 1, 4:30 p.m., Columbus Public Library, 3000 Macon Road, Columbus Want to see your event listed here? Email events@thelocalcolumbus.com

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August 2018

dead brother, and in the latter she’s an assistant to a famous actress, played by Juliette Binoche, with whom she has a close but strained relationship. The acting is mesmerizing throughout, especially in a scene where the two rehearse a play and they both become the play’s characters while still very much being the characters they are in the film, and so the play becomes a play about the film, and vice versa.

Assayas’s range is amazing.

He can go from a novelistic family drama like Summer Hours, about a family drifting apart after their mother passes away, to Carlos, a three-part mega-movie about famed 1970s terrorist Carlos the Jackal. With its edgy, constantly moving camera work, fast-paced editing, and tour de force performance by Edgar Ramirez (who speaks five languages in the film), it stands among the greatest crime dramas.

And he’s still going strong, currently working on another film with Binoche that he has said will be “very, very, very dialogue-heavy.” And for that matter, so are some of the old French masters I’ve mentioned above. Godard’s most recent won the first ever “Special Palme d’Or” at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, and Varda’s Faces Places got a 2018 Oscar nomination.

Longevity. Yet another reason why the French are the cinematic champions of the world.

Joe Miller is an Associate Professor of English at Columbus State and a certified film freak.

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August 2018

Local Authors

Spark Summer Reading

By Molly Wright

It seems like the Chattahoochee Valley barely got to have a spring, and now the summer is here, bringing with it the excitement of summer reading challenges at area schools and libraries. As a mother of a four-year-old, I am always looking for books my daughter will be excited to pick up, watch intently, and eventually memorize so she can act out the story. I try to find activities with a balance between preparing my daughter to be “Kindergarten ready” and letting her enjoy her childhood imagination. Thankfully Columbus and its surrounding areas are filled with gifted artists, and two local authors have spun stories young children will treasure for summer reading and beyond.

The Adventures of Jo Jo and Ru Bear In Outer Space

by Derik Allen Roberts, with illustrations by Stephen Long

Follow bouncy Ru Bear and her jumping brother Jo Jo as they start out on a swing set and, by the power of their imaginations, find themselves traveling out of the earth’s orbit to jump around on the moon, arriving home just in time to watch a gorgeous sunset. What is remarkable about this book is how the characters go from the real world into the world of their imaginations and then back to reality again, all the while appearing as the adorable bear and kangaroo for which they are named. The author, Derik Roberts, created these characters in honor of his two children and the sweet nicknames he has given them. By keeping the characters consistently in their imaginative form (as Jo Jo the kangaroo and Ru Bear the teddy bear), Roberts gives our children the opportunity to envision themselves as the playful animals on these adventures, in which ordinary places like the swing set become a launch pad, brilliantly rendered in Long’s illustrations. For more information, including opportunities to arrange an author visit to area schools, libraries, and churches, check out The Adventures of Jo Jo and Ru Bear on Facebook or email rubooksales@gmail. com. The book has been a featured title at The Kiddie Shoppe (15 West 11th Street in Columbus), a marvelous local clothing, toy, and childhood essentials store with an excellent selection and a friendly staff.

Katie and the Kudzu King

by Stephen K. Scott (coordinator of the Annual Strut the Hooch Parade), Illustrated by Donna K. Bailey

Written with a bouncy meter and catchy rhyme scheme, this story is fun for parents to read (and for kids to repeat) while still telling a complex, imaginative story. Little Katie travels from New Jersey to Georgia for her first visit South, and, on her way to visit her country cousins, she notices telephone poles, hillsides, and fields blanketed in kudzu. After asking her relatives about this strange vine, Katie dreams of meeting The Kudzu King and his royal court, which sparks a conversation with her cousins about the origin of kudzu. The poem bounces along to a conversation with a botanist at the local agricultural college, revealing the fascinating roots of the kudzu phenomenon in the South.

The cliff-hanging ending makes this book a bedtime favorite at our house, because my daughter will always come up with a different possible outcome when Katie takes a certain souvenir back to New Jersey. Katie and the Kudzu King has been a featured title at The Kiddie Shoppe, and schools, churches, and organizations can arrange for the author to make an appearance by visiting thekudzuking.com or by emailing kudzukingproductions@gmail.com.

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August 2018

THE PEACE

TREE

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he Peace Tree (2007, steel and stainless steel) is one of two sculptures contributed to Uptown Columbus by the Thompson-Pound Art Program, a non-profit program providing an outlet for children to collaborate and express their ideas through art. The steel trunk weathers in time, but the stainless steel leaves, ever fresh and vibrant, seem eager to reflect whatever the community and environment provide. The Peace Tree is included on ArtBeat’s ArtWalk, and is one of many wonderful works of public art, which we will continue to showcase in this space.

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August 2018

Eley Road @ Meriwether Steak Co.

Aug. 18, 7:30 p.m., Meriwether Steak Co. 1651 Whitehouse Parkway, Warm Springs, Ga.

2-year Anniversary Fest Featuring Traitors, Signs of the Swarm @ The Estate Aug. 22, 2 p.m., The Estate, 1231 Midway Drive, Columbus

GP38 @ Dock’s on Lake Harding

Aug. 24, 8 p.m., Dock’s, 9883 Lee Road 379, Valley, Al.

Open Mic Hosted by Matt Kirkley

Do you play an acoustic instrument and/or sing? Come out and showcase your talent. All musicians wishing to play must sign-up in advance. Sign ups are at 7:00 at The Loft. Every Wednesday, 8 p.m., The Loft, 1032 Broadway, Columbus

Alabama Avenue @ The Tavern

Every Friday, 9 p.m., The Outskirts Bar & Grill, 5736 Veterans Parkway, Columbus

The Atlman/Moore Project @ Meriwether Steak Co.

Aug. 24, 9 p.m., The Tavern, 6298 Veterans Parkway, Columbus

ATM Live Music @ CIRCA

Karaoke & Lip-sync Battle @ The Outskirts Misty Harbor Duo @ 219 Food and Spirits

Aug. 11, 8 - 11 p.m., 219 Food and Spirits, 5167 GA Highway 219, Fortson, Ga.

Big Daddy @ Meriwether Steak Co.

Aug. 11, 8 p.m., Meriwether Steak Co. 1651 Whitehouse Parkway, Warm Springs, Ga.

Aug. 24, 10 p.m., CIRCA Craft Cocktails, 900 Front Avenue, Columbus Aug. 25, 7:30 p.m., Meriwether Steak Co. 1651 Whitehouse Parkway, Warm Springs, Ga.

GP-38 @ The Outskirts

Aug. 25, 9 p.m., The Outskirts Bar & Grill, 5736 Veterans Parkway, Columbus

The Great Affairs @ The Loft

Aug. 25, 9 p.m. - midnight, The Loft, 1032 Broadway, Columbus

Eley Road @ The Outskirts

Aug. 11, 9 p.m., The Outskirts Sports Bar & Grill, 5736 Veterans Parkway, Columbus

Eley Road @ The Outskirts

Aug. 11, 9 p.m., The Outskirts Sports Bar & Grill, 5736 Veterans Parkway, Columbus

Chattahoochee Valley Music Tour

$30/person includes shuttle and mid-tour appetizer w/ beverage. Tour starts and ends at Chattahoochee Brewing Company. This fun-filled day tour is for all music lovers of various genres! Venture behind-the-scenes into some of Columbus’ best local musical landmarks such at The Rivercenter and the The Liberty Theater. Hear stories of national renown musicians and producers that once, (or still) call Columbus/Phenix City home. Enjoy the post-tour after party with live music by Tim O’Brien, brews at Chattahoochee Brewing Company, and dinner from food trucks. Brews and truck food not included with ticket pricing. Post-tour party is open to the public! Aug. 11, 1 - 5:30 p.m., Chattahoochee Brewing, 505 13th Street, Phenix City

Angie Aparo @ The Loft

Aug. 25, 8 - 10 p.m., The Loft, 1032 Broadway, Columbus

The United States Navy Band Country Current

The United States Navy Band Country Current is the Navy’s premier countrybluegrass ensemble. The group is nationally renowned for its versatility and “eye-popping” musicianship, performing a blend of modern country music and cutting-edge bluegrass. This seven-member ensemble employs musicians from diverse backgrounds with extensive high-profile recording and touring experience in the music scenes of Nashville, Tenn., New York, New Orleans and more. In the tradition of country music, each member is a skilled performer on multiple instruments. The band utilizes banjo, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, mandolin, fiddle, electric bass, upright bass, dobro, pedal steel guitar and drum set.

Sept. 1, 3 - 5 p.m., RiverCenter for the Performing Arts, 900 Broadway, Columbus Want to see your event listed here? Email events@thelocalcolumbus.com

Summer Concert Series @ The Columbus Museum

Throughout the summer, the arts collide with music. Bring a picnic or purchase one from a featured food truck. Enjoy a free guided tour of the Museum’s collection by staff and docents. This concert will feature the Fort Benning Maneuver Center of Excellence Jazz Band. Aug. 16, 6 - 9 p.m., The Columbus Museum, 1251 Wynnton Road, Columbus

Yacht Rock Schooner @ The Loft

Aug. 17, 9 p.m., The Loft, 1032 Broadway, Columbus

Tri-City Back to School Bash

Money Shot @ Chattahoochee Harley-Davidson

Aug. 17, 8 - 11 p.m., Chattahoochee Harley-Davidson, 3230 Williams Road, Columbus

Velcro Pygmies @ The Bottling Plant Event Center

Aug. 17, 9 p.m., The Bottling Plant Event Center, 614 North Railroad Avenue, Opelika

Money Shot @ Wild Wing Cafe

Aug. 18, 9 p.m., Wild Wing Cafe, 6525 Whittlesey Boulevard, Columbus

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With vendors, food trucks and live entertainment, this will be fun for the whole family. Through the collaboration of many community partners, The Liberty Theatre and Cultural Center will be giving school supplies to nearly 1,000 children. Aug. 5, 5 - 8 p.m., The Liberty Theatre Cultural Center, 821 8th Avenue, Columbus

WFTDA Recognized Non-Skating Official’s Clinic

This clinic is limited to 50 spots, which will be first come first served based on the registration link below. This clinic is FREE and open to the public.

The Muscogee Roller Girls are covering all costs associated with this Clinic.

Register here: https://goo.gl/AtUq3k, Aug. 11, 10:30 a.m. - 2 p.m., Columbus Public Library, 3000 Macon Road, Columbus August 2018

Monthly Meeting of the Minds

Celebrate the Meeting’s 3rd anniversary with mayor Teresa Tomlinson, mayorelect Skip Henderson and entrepreneur Frank Braski for discussion on small business and entrepreneurship. Aug. 15, 5:45 - 7:15 p.m., The Loft, 1032 Broadway, Columbus

Columbus LGBT Block Party

Enjoy a DJ, live performances, a drag show and community speakers at this free event. Host Colgay Pride has enjoyed a number of great successes recently, including better access to care for HIV patients. Events like the Block Party help further raise awareness and unite the community. Aug. 18, 7 - 10 p.m., 1100 Broadway, Columbus

I, Read Sci-Fi Book Club

Join us as we venture into the world of science fiction books, exploring both modern and classic/vintage books. Come nerd out with fellow lovers of all things space, alien, science, and technology related. Even if you haven’t read the book for the current month, feel free to join the discussion anyway. We meet monthly at Iron Bank Coffee House in Uptown Columbus. Book club members are responsible for their own food & beverage purchases. For more information, call the adult services department of the Columbus Public Library at 706-2432669. Aug. 21, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m., Iron Bank Coffee Company, 6 West 11th Street, Columbus

Muscogee Roller Girls vs. Panhandle United

Muscogee Roller Girls are back for one night only! You don’t want to miss this-action packed event so get your tickets soon! The Panhandle United Allstars are traveling from Fort Walton Beach, FL to match up with one of their fiercest competitors, the Muscogee Roller Girls. These two teams have quite a history of competition between them and the action will be fierce as Panhandle United tries to hold on to their winning streak and MRG hits the track looking for redemption after their loss to Panhandle at the Low Down Throw Down Tournament in Augusta, GA earlier this year. It was a close game for these long-time rivals and recent shake ups to both their line ups are going to make it anyone’s game. Aug. 25, 7 - 9 p.m., Columbus Civic Center, 400 4th Street, Columbus

Columbus Comic Book and Toy Show

Join the Coca-Cola Space Science Center for a Sunday full of comics, toys, costume characters and more. Admission is only $5 and includes all the normal CCSSC exhibits and simulations. Aug. 26, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Coca Cola Space Science Center, 701 Front Avenue, Columbus

20th Annual Sky High Hot Air Balloon Festival

Soar into September at Callaway Gardens’ annual Hot Air Balloon Festival.

Celebrating 20 years of Labor Day Weekend fun, the festival kicks off with the extraordinary Friday Night Balloon Glow and continues all weekend long.

Watch beautiful balloons inflate or hop in a basket for your own tethered balloon ride. Saturday is filled with family-friendly events, including live music, beach activities, a Kids Zone and much more. There’s something for everyone with a classic car show, disc dog demonstrations, live music and entertaining performers. If you’re a photography buff, you can sign up for our hands-on “Mastering Night Photography” course. Plus, you’ll find drink specials and sports on the televisions at the Beach Bar. Cap off the weekend with a final balloon glow Sunday night on Robin Lake Beach. With this exciting line-up of events, surrounded by the natural beauty of Callaway Gardens, there’s no better way to say “farewell” to Summer 2018. If you would like to be a vendor at the Hot Air Balloon Festival, please contact info@callawaygardens.com Aug. 31 Sept. 2, Callaway Gardens, 17800 US Highway 27, Pine Mountain, Ga.

Classic Car Show at the Sky High Hot Air Balloon Festival

Classic cars are nostalgic and fun to look peruse. Enjoy seeing nearly 300 of them during the Saturday of the Sky High Hot Air Balloon Festival, included in Admission ticket. Sept. 1, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Callaway Gardens, 17800 US LocaL

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Goetchius House

By Adelaide Merritt

NEW YORK COMES TO COLUMBUS WITH NEW ORLEANS STYLE

A

ny sizable city will be a mishmash of styles, inspired by other countries and time periods. Grecian temples, Victorian frills, French decadence can all be found right here in our fair city.

Way back in 1834, Richard Rose Goetchius traveled to Columbus from New York and became the patriarch of one of our oldest families. Establishing himself as an architect and builder, he later built and gave his wife, Mary A. Bennett, a structure that was certainly more useful than a diamond—a house.

Originally located on the corner of Second Ave and 11th Street, this house was built in a style that mimicked some of the Garden District homes of New Orleans. “With wide veranda across the front and wrought-iron lacework forming the balustrade, and an overhanging canopy of the same black iron lace, it is a thing of beauty,” Etta Blanchard Worsley wrote in “Columbus on the Chattahoochee.” Goetchius designed and built the house with love, evident

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in the spacious rooms and hall, carved cornices and the elaborate chandeliers.

Some of the ironwork has since been replaced with wooden columns and banisters, but the house still retains its intricate carvings inside the house and features gorgeous stained glass windows throughout.

August 2018

The house stayed in the Goetchius family for about 125 years. All six of Richard and Mary’s children were born in the house. One son passed away in childhood and the two eldest died in the Civil War. The two remaining sons decided that their only sister should have the house. It then passed to her only child (as she died in childbirth), then on to her only grandson.

As with many homes in the Columbus Historic District, the Goetchius House was moved from its original location to the neighborhood, on brick-paved Broadway and overlooking the Chattahoochee River. Dubbed “mobile Columbus” by Clason Kyle, an Editor of the Sesquicentennial Supplement of the Ledger-Enquirer in 1978, many of the houses in Columbus were built with the ability to be moved if the then-unpurchased land lots were sold to someone other than the current resident. The Goetchius House was split into three pieces and moved to lower Broadway in 1969, after being acquired by James Woodruff, Jr., who set it upon a brick basement.

In it’s long history, the Goetchius House has served as a family home, a pediatrician’s office and an elegant restaurant with rave reviews. This historic beauty is currently for sale and waiting on its chance to be revived once again. u

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those objectives. Aug. 18, 8 a.m. - noon, Columbus Aquatic Center, 1603 Midtown Drive, Columbus

The Grand Columbus Whitewater Paddle

Suffering is Optional: The Buddhist Approach to Happiness

Record breaking whitewater rafting, zip-lining, live music and cold beer The 2018 Grand Columbus Whitewater Paddle on August 25 is better and wetter than ever. The Grand, hosted by the Georgia Conservancy, is the largest weekend of whitewater rafting in Columbus history hosting more than 1,200 paddlers on the Chattahoochee River and featuring a Saturday afternoon riverside party celebrating Columbus - the best adventure city in Georgia.

For more information, visit georgiaconservancy.com Aug. 25, 8 a.m. - 7 p.m., Whitewater Express, 1000 Bay Avenue, Columbus

Georgia Master Naturalist Course

Animal Ark’s first dog hike went so well, they decided to make it a monthly field trip. Anyone 18yrs or older with a valid photo I.D. may participate. **No children will be allowed on the group hike for safety reasons. If you have a child and would like to take a shelter dog on an outing or hike individually, you may swing by the shelter any day during business hours and check out a child-friendly dog for an outing.** Children 16yrs or older may participate if accompanied by an adult. Participants must be able to transport dog of their choice from and back to the shelter. Aug. 26, 8 a.m. - noon, Animal Ark Rescue, 7133 Sacerdote Lane, Columbus

Dog Hike in Pine Mountain

Founder and Spiritual Director of Urban Dharma NC, Dorjé Lopön Dr. Hun Lye is a senior teacher in the Drikung Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. He teaches extensively throughout North America, South America, and Southeast Asia and regularly leads pilgrimages to the Himalayan region. His teaching style reflects his unique training in both Eastern and Western education systems. Recently returned from retreat in Vancouver, he is visiting Columbus for the first time. This event is free an open to the public. Aug. 4, 2 - 5 p.m.; Aug. 5, noon - 3 p.m., Art of Yoga, 627 2nd Avenue, Columbus The Georgia Master Naturalist is a nine week hands-on environmental education course that explores habitats and ecosystems in the Columbus area and the human impact on those environments. The course will include indepth lectures from regional experts and all field trips led by professionals with comprehensive knowledge of the area. Trips will include kayak water sampling in the lakes at Oxbow Meadows, tour of the Arboretum in Auburn and a geology hike at Providence Canyon. We will also explore the Chattahoochee Fall Line Wildlife Management Area. Other classes will be at the Oxbow Meadows Environmental Learning Center. The $200 fee covers course materials and field trips. Call UGA Extension to register. Deadline is August 6. (706)-6534200 Aug. 6, UGA Extension—Columbus, 420 10th Street, Columbus

Headquarter Nissan & Big Dog Running Labor Day 10K

Sept. 1, Registration: 6 a.m.; Race: 7:30 a.m., Big Dog Fleet Feet, 5413 Whittlesey Boulevard, Columbus

Chase the Hooch 2.4 mile

Join TriColumbusGA for a 2.4 mile swim down the Chattahoochee River.

River depths are consistently 4 - 6 feet. Participants receive a race specific towel.

Swim teams are welcome and encouraged. Sept. 1, 9 a.m. - noon, Woodruff Park, 1000 Bay Avenue, Columbus Want to see your event listed here? Email events@thelocalcolumbus.com

Chattahoochee Challenge Olympic Triathlon and Duathlon

This is a great race to gauge your fitness level or transition from a sprint and half-distance race. The swim is a two loop, 500 meter, down-river swim, in depths no greater than six feet. Duathletes start with a two-mile run. The bike route is smooth and flat. The run route will take you along the scenic Phenix City Riverwalk and into Historic Columbus. Aug. 11, 8 a.m. - noon, Woodruff Park, 1000 Bay Avenue, Columbus

Butterfly Release

Join the Columbus Botanical Garden and the West Central Georgia Cancer Coalition for a butterfly release at the gardens, which are especially lovely this time of year. Aug. 11, 9 a.m. - noon, Columbus Botanical Garden, 3603 Weems Road, Columbus

Holistic Columbus Expo

Hosted by Holistic Columbus, this free expo brings over 80 vendors spreading awareness about health and wellness. Vendors showcase local practitioners and entrepreneurs whose mission is to serve the community through their natural products and practices. Aug. 11, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Columbus Convention & Trade Center, 801 Front Avenue, Columbus

Lakebottom 5K

Join the Junior League of Columbus for their annual Lakebottom 5K, a fun run for the entire family. In addition to 5K and 1 mile races, enjoy the Tot Trot, bounce houses, face painting and a baby rest stop, complete with diaper change and breast feeding areas. Registration is $20 for Columbus Road Race members and $25 for nonmembers; it will be $30 on race day. All proceeds benefit the JLC’s Healthy Child Initiatives. Aug. 18, 6:30 - 9:30 a.m., Lakebottom Park, 18th Street, Columbus

Go Nuts Columbus Kids Summer Triathlon

Triathlon is a tremendous sport that encourages families to pursue active lifestyles and spend time together. Go Nuts Biking is passionate about giving our youth the opportunity to be active and get involved in the community.

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Run Like a Girl three local ladies prepare for a full Ironman and offer inspiration along the way

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aybe the real question for Amanie Bussey is, “When do you sleep?” Once you see how much she and fellow TriAngels, Christy Schrek and Kara Sasser, train for races, you have to wonder. Then again, once you get to know Amanie, you might also get the idea she can’t help it. Staying active and being extraordinary is about letting go of what holds us back and running—or biking or swimming—toward what we love to do.

Amanie, who welcomed me into her office at E&S Mattress & Furniture (819 Veterans Parkway, Columbus) for our interview, first became interested in long distance races 6 years ago, when a friend came to visit Columbus for a triathlon. Amanie had always been a runner, and the idea of a more demanding

Amanie is a naturally energetic person. She operates a business, E&S Mattress & Furniture, and is a mother. To keep up in the grueling world of triathlon races, especially if one wants to be competitive, requires a demanding training schedule, and Amanie balances work and family with a dizzying training routine. Most weeks involve 3 bikes, swims and runs each, mixed with recovery days, and some days with extended bikes and runs. Amanie, who admits to being easily bored, credits her love of triathlon races for her sustained interest. “I get tunnel vision, you know, when I really love doing something,” she said before offering me a Gatorade.

I wondered if finding people to train with was difficult for aspiring triathletes. Training partners would need the same tunnel-vision dedication to the Amanie, Kara & Christy sport, the wherewithal to commit, the resilience to see through an intimidating training regimen. Fortunately for Amanie, and anyone else curious and willing to commit, the world of triathletes is a warm, welcoming environment.

Amanie’s first experience training with local triathletes might have been a disaster, if not for their openheartedness. Her husband’s friend, Jeff Gordy of Arnold’s Bike Shop (4613 Warm Springs Road, Columbus), invited her for a ride. The location was the infamous Dragon’s Back trail, an intense roll of hills that can fry the legs of even the most serious cyclists. Between the intensity of the ride and the oppressive Georgia heat, at the end of the ride, Amanie, despite being in excellent condition, threw up. “Probably not a great impression,” Amanie joked, “yet they brought me in.”

Christy, Amanie & Kara

race intrigued her. Looking for more information, she visited her friend Jason McKenzie at Ride On Bikes (1036 Broadway, Columbus) to discuss races.

He suggested she join him at the John P. Thayer YMCA (24 14th Street, Columbus) for the Master Swim Class, which trains people of all swimming levels to promote the sport, improve individual ability and create a challenge for swimming enthusiasts. Amanie could have stopped there. She could have asked for the information and never taken the leap.

Triathlons are intense. These multi-stage races typically involve three contiguous endurance segments of swimming, running and cycling. To be curious is one thing, but to take action is another. For Amanie, the leap between curiosity and action is all about making a commitment. Besides, she said, once she told her friend Jason she would go to the swimming class, she had someone counting on her. The mutual dependence between friends is a thread running throughout Anamie’s story—they show up for you, you show up for them, and as a result, everyone performs better.

Her first race was the annual Callaway Sprint Triathlon. Though she had trained, Amanie was not entirely sure what to expect. At the end of the race, she found herself on the podium.

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Kara, Christy & Amanie

August 2018

It was through this training group that Amanie met Christy and Kara. Christy and Kara had already been competing in half Ironman races, which consist of a 1.2-mile swim, a 56-mile bike ride and a 13.1-mile run, raced in that order and without intermission. “They’re such super motivated women,” Amanie told me. She was inspired to join them, so the three began training together.

Balancing work and family with training for Ironman races can be a challenge. Amanie manages the trick by looking forward, beyond the obstacles. The three friends work with coach Harvey Gayer of TriCoach Georgia. Harvey liked to joke that he was Charlie while Amanie, Christy and Kara were his angels, and this joke soon evolved into an established name for the trio: the TriAngels. Amanie also credits the work of Amanie, Harvey Gayer, Christy & Kara Chattahoochee Triathlon Club, which hosts a number of training events, and TriColumbusGA, which hosts races in the community throughout the year. With so much support, of close friends and training partners and a dedicated community of athletes, the balancing act is made a little easier, even if the act sometimes requires Amanie take business calls while she’s on her trainer bike at home. All three of the TriAngels, parents each of them, also find inspiration at home.

They take their children to races, they go for runs and swims. “I want them to see,” Amanie said of her children. By keeping their children involved, the TriAngels hope to inspire them to pursue their own dreams—and promoting health and keeping the kids off devices for a while are nice perks, too. It’s also important to Amanie that her children see how their mother makes time for the things she loves, which often involves 4 a.m. wakeup calls to run or swim.

4 a.m. is a necessity now for the TriAngels.

In November, the team will fly to Tempe, Az. for their first full Ironman triathlon. Widely considered one of the most difficult single-day sporting events in the world, the full Ironman is a punishing 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bicycle ride and full marathon run—26.22 miles—all raced without a break. Athletes burn between seven and ten thousand calories, a staggering output of energy, to carry themselves as swiftly as possible across 140.6 miles of the race.

To build up to a race of this magnitude, the TriAngels are training 6, 7 and sometimes 8 hours every day. Amanie admitted, “it’s a crazy amount of volume.” When an average Ironman time Amanie, Kara & Christy can surpass twelve hours, to race a crazy race you have to train like crazy.

To commemorate the adventure, the TriAngels are taking with them a support team of family and close friends. After the race is run, and maybe a day or two of recovery, the crew plans to travel the southwest, exploring the great western parks and celebrating one another. “We’re doing a huge Thanksgiving,” Amanie said, and after a full Ironman, a full blown feast seems the only way to celebrate.

To document their Ironman experience, the TriAngels set up an Instagram account (tri_angels3), where you can keep track of the challenges and joys as these extraordinary people gear up for the most demanding race on earth.

For the team, social media has provided consistent supportive feedback. The TriAngels also hope their experience, shared with the public, will encourage other women to get involved with triathlon racing by showing them that balancing work and family with even the most demanding training schedules can be done. Whatever your goals, whether it’s to race triathlons or simply, like me, to get in the gym a little more often, the TriAngels can inspire all of us to put some miles between our excuses and our goals, and to get moving in the right direction. u LocaL

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change your flat bicycle tire. Don’t worry, we have all the equipment and tools.

Aug. 30, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m., Ride On Bikes, 1036 Broadway, Columbus

Breathe Holistic Health & Wellness Spa Farmers Market

Join Breathe Spa every second Saturday for an abundance of local food by local farmers, including free range chicken, herbs, baked goods, jams and preserves, and more. The first fifty people will receive a complimentary pound of sweet Vidalia onions. As a Georgia Fresh for Less partner, EBT/SNAP customers double their purchase dollars on select items. Aug. 11, 9 a.m., Breathe Holistic Health & Wellness Spa, 5402 15th Avenue, Columbus Want to see your event listed here? Email events@thelocalcolumbus.com

Cocktails & Characters

This month’s book: “Promise Me, Dad” by Joe Biden. This library staff led book club meets at Mellow Mushroom and is open to the public. Attendees are responsible for buying their own food and beverages.

Aug. 7, 6 - 9 p.m., Mellow Mushroom, 6100 Veterans Parkway, Columbus

SUDS = StartUp Drinks for Entrepreneurs

Social drinking club with a StartUp problem. This group of creative minds comes together to socialize and develop entrepreneurship networks. Have fun, build relationships and change the world, one drink at a time. Aug. 14, 5:30 8:30 p.m., CIRCA Craft Cocktails, 900 Front Avenue, Columbus

North Highland Farmers Market

Join MercyMed of Columbus for a farmers market where SNAP users see their dollars doubled. Swipe your card for $10 and get another $10 worth of tokens to use at market vendors. Get to know your neighbors and farmers, and join the growing community of local food enthusiasts. Aug. 15 and Sept. 5, 4 p.m., MercyMed of Columbus, 3702 2nd Avenue, Columbus

Fat Tires and Flat Tires

Come on in for a pint of Fat Tire beer and chips and we’ll teach you how to

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August 2018

S i l ve r D a i s y

¼ oz simple syrup ¾ oz fresh lime juice

(one or two limes) ½ oz Dekuyper O3 orange liqueur 1 ½ oz Brugal Anejo rum 2 dashes Fee Bros. grapefruit bitters 2 oz Zardetto Prosecco

RUM

COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE UMBRELLA

W

hen most of us think of rum, we think of sipping something tropical, fruity, exotic, and usually garnished with a paper umbrella. But there is more to rum than just a beachy, fruity frozen sipper.

Because Aug. 16 is designated as National Rum Day, I felt it was time to revisit my rum shelf on the bar and see what I could come up with besides the standards—daiquiris, pina coladas, or cuba libre.

If you like scotch whiskey (as I do), try a Mr. Howell. It’s a twist on the daiquiri that adds a dash of maple syrup, and a peaty scotch. For something with a little sparkle, try a Silver Daisy—rum with prosecco. If your go-to is the traditional Madras (with vodka), try the Caribbean Madras with dark rum. If you need a conversation starter, try the rum drink with the funny name: Yaka Hula Hickey Dula. These rumtastic recipes should help make your National Rum Day a little more interesting. Cheers!

D a rk ‘ N’ S to r my 2 oz Goslings Dark Rum Goslings ginger beer

Pour ginger beer into ice-filled glass top with 2 ounces ginger beer garnish with lime wedge

Add first five ingredients to ice-filled cocktail shaker.

Shake well to blend and chill. Strain into champagne flute and top with prosecco.

Caribbean Madras

1 ¼ ounces Appleton Estate Signature Blend 3 ounces orange juice 1 ½ ounces cranberry juice

Add ingredients to ice-filled glass. Stir and serve.

Garnish with orange wheel.

Ya k a H u l a H i c ke y D u l a 1 ½ oz Smith & Cross Jamaican Rum 1 ½ oz Dolin Dry Vermouth 1 ½ oz pineapple juice

Add ingredients to ice-filled cocktail shaker. Shake well and strain into chilled cocktail glass. For a frozen treat, pour ingredients into blender with ¾ cup of ice.

Blend until smooth. Pour into chilled hurricane glass.

by Richard Edwards,

R i c h a r d Ed wa r d s, S p i r i t s M a n a g e r, Uptown Wine & Spirits

R a s pber r y R um Mu l e 2 ounces Cruzan rum juice of ½ lime 1 tsp agave nectar 5 raspberries 6 ounces Goslings ginger beer ½ cup ice

Add rum, lime juice, agave nectar, raspberries, and ice to cocktail shaker. Shake until ingredients are well blended and chilled. Pour into ice-filled glass and top with ginger beer. Garnish with raspberries and rosemary sprig LocaL

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August 2018

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August 2018

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August 2018