The LocaL, November-December, 2021

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NOVEMBER -DECEMBER 2021

T h e St or y of H ow a C o mmu n ity Ca me Th ro u g h

TO SAV E A HIS T OR IC PL A C E

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wooden structure known as the “corn mill” built by Horace King. The Corn Mill was really the only building on site until 1890, when George A. Pearce organized and received a charter for a new City Mills Company. The construction that year included a brick warehouse, a wooden grain elevator, and an additional grinding facility, known as the “flour mill.”

A concrete silo was constructed in 1914.

In addition to grinding meal, the mill also generated power. City Mills was the first of many hydropower users at the Falls of the Chattahoochee, and in the 1890s it became involved in hydroelectric development at the site. From the late 1890s, the Brush Electric Light Co. generated electricity on top of the mill to light homes and power the city’s street cars.

It was George Pearce who really developed the site and grew it into an important industry for Columbus. After Mr.

By Scott Berson

here is one little spot on the Chattahoochee, just a little ways up from Uptown, which has had quite the journey to get where it has come today. The storied brick buildings, perched sentinel-like over the flowing waters of the Chattahoochee, are now home to new life, excitement, food and wonder. After more than a century and a half of history, and decades of dereliction, the historic City Mills site in Columbus opened this year as a new boutique hotel, restaurant, and yoga center -- with more likely to come. The rapids rush on just downstream, and the

Pearce’s death in 1931, John P. Illges was elected President.

It was purchased by Eelbeck Co. in 1951. The mill was sold to Lloyd G. Bowers in 1966. Cornmeal and flour were produced from City Mills until the 1960s. Animal feed became the main product for the mill until the early 1980s.

Then operations ceased.

NEW LIFE

RiverWalk brings explorers from north and south to see the incredible change.

It took a lot of work to get here. Longtime community partner Ken Henson, Columbus businessman Jack Pezold, the Historic Columbus Foundation, Valley Hospitality and many others came together to turn this crucial piece of Columbus’s past into a mark of its future.

HISTORY

Seaborn Jones built a small water-powered gristmill on the Chattahoochee in 1828. He constructed a wooden dam across the rapids to provide power, and that original dam continued to be used until 1908, when a stone dam was constructed.

Following the war in 1869, a group of businessmen built a new mill on the site. The new building was a three-story

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stabilization, paving the way for the project to move forward.

Mr. Henson then found a new partner in Pezold Management. Jack Pezold and Tracy Sayers were able to see the adaptive re-use possibilities in the buildings for a new boutique hotel.

Now the hotel is open for business, and the attention to detail and tangible love of its local connection is clear from every brick. The website for the hotel describes it better than anyone else could:

In 2015, Ken Henson approached the Historic Columbus foundation, inviting them to partner with him to stabilize the two remaining buildings. City Mills was the last endangered mill within the National Historic Landmark District, and the Foundation jumped at the chance by making the stabilization project the centerpiece of its 50th anniversary capital campaign.

“Historic preservation is more than just saving old buildings–it’s about our shared history as a community and it’s about people and the places they care about,” said Executive Director Elizabeth Walden.

The group’s investment paid off, and became the single, largest investment Historic Columbus has made to a project to date. Historic Columbus invested $1.2 million in the

“Steps from the historic Chattahoochee River, an electrifying symbol of our city’s urban renewal, City Mills is Columbus’ first luxury boutique hotel. Filled with custom furniture, original artwork and potters, state-of-the-art technology, and preserved pieces from the Mill’s historic past, City Mills revels in the details,” it says. “Original brick walls.

Hand-crafted metalworks. Preserved artifacts. Decorative local works of art. Every square inch of City Mills reflects our unique history and integrated collaboration between historians, designers, architects, and artisans who brought a vision to life.”

Each room comes with an incredible view, and you’re steps from an amazing session at River Flow Yoga and Wellness and the sights, smells and tastes of downtown Columbus just a moment away. Soon, the Millhouse Restaurant will open as well, “[combining] the energy of City Mills with the

tranquility of the river to bring you an unparalleled dining experience.” It is set to serve its first dish es in early Spring of 2022.

So come, no matter what the reason, and cherish this place, a testament to what a community can do to save and reuse a place it cares about. Book a room for a treat, or put up a family member or friend for a visit. Walk the halls and study the pictures that take us back to the old heart of this town. Connect with yourself and with others at River Flow.

A true gem of the south, City Mills is back to stay, and will continue to serve the residents and visitors of Columbus for many years to come.u 2

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STUFF TO READ City Mills

The Story of How a Community Came Through to Save A Historic Place

PAWS Humane Society

Making the Holidays Happy for All Creatures

MEC

Making the Fountain City into a Music City

What is The Do Good Fund Inc.?

Old Town Provisions

Something Old, Something New & Plenty of Support for LocaL Business

n lieu of my normal letter from the publisher, this month I’d Ifriend. like to share a poem from a wonderful local lady, mother and Consider it a small gift from me to you.

Also, shop Local.

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Gaby Osterburg Azhar THE CHATTAHOOCHEE

t hel o cal co l u mbu s . co m f acebook .com/t helocalcolumbusga issuu.com/t helocalcolumbus

Photo By MJ

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What We Are All About.

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Out of the dense undergrowth a trickle emerges at Jack’s Gap in the majestic Blue Ridge mountains of north Georgia, gaining power and dimension in its aspect as it makes its way for over 400 miles to mingle with the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, its tributaries bearing names like Anneewakee, Bear, and Tuggle.

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It wends its way through Georgia, Alabama, and Florida forming part of the borders of these states nourishing people and crops along the way powering machines for textiles as our young country grew and prospered.

Artist Spotlight

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Providing succor to indigenous peoples as far back as 1,000 years, in places, its wild, pristine shoreline evoking images of Indian braves casting off in a canoe red bodies gleaming in the sun, feathered headbands stirring in the breeze.

Local Bakers Make Life in Columbus

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Chattahoochee—Thundering water tumbling from its falls its perilous eddies claiming more than one unsuspecting soul

No Shame RETURNS

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AROUND TOWN A “Wave” Comes to The RiverCenter

Historic Theatre Organ Will Light Up this Holiday Season Jaclayvious Emmanuel

Chattahoochee – “Rocks-marked,” “painted rocks” denoting the colorful granite outcroppings along its banks

a Little Sweeter with New Cake Studio

Chattahoochee – “Hooch” – a popular Georgia nickname Immortalized in song by Alan Jackson and Ludacris Home to me for over 60 years, its waters powered Muscogee Mills where I held my first job. Now a parking garage to accommodate high-tech industry has replaced the long-gone cotton mill.

Today, hopeful fishermen still line the banks on summer mornings. White water rafters shout their delight above the roar of churning water. Young families stroll its Riverwalk, competing with rollerbladers and cyclists for 15 miles and more.

Photo By MJ

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 Sundi Rose Erick Richman Tricia Montgomery

Thank you for reading,

Special Thanks To The Historic Society For Their Contribution To The City Mills Article

Monica Jones

On the Cover - Jaclayvious Emmanuel Michelangelo 20x20 Acrylic, Paint Marker, Sharpie, Gold Leafing on Canvas

Smile

By Jaclayvious Emmanuel

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Humane Society

Pets for Life MAKING THE HOLIDAYS HAPPY FOR ALL CREATURES

By Tricia Montgomery, CEO Paws Humane Society

or many, the holidays bring to mind F family, smiling faces, presents under the tree, mistletoe and a time for giving thanks.

Unfortunatley for many in our community, this is not the case.

Paws Humane Society and our Pets for Life program regularly canvas the zip codes of 31901 and 31903, where the average income is less than $19,000. Imagine trying to take care of your family and feed your dog or cat, let alone buy presents. Every day is a struggle, and sometimes a fight to survive.

According to a recent Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce survey of the 10 zip codes of Muscogee County, including Fort Benning, out of the 79,298 residents surveyed, 39,725 own a pet, with 21% owning more than one.

Pets for Life provides much needed resources to those in our community who would not have

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Consider asking for donations in lieu of gifts Surprise your local charity with a DoorDash or GrubHub gift card as a special treat • Support Goodwill, Feeding the Valley, Valley Rescue Mission and other “human” organizations • Educate your children about the needs of pets and their people • Be kind and say thank you With over 50% of Columbus residents owning pets, let’s make sure those that need

their pets the most receive the love and care they deserve.

With your help, we can make the holidays better and brighter for our community of pets and their people. Together we can make a positive impact for cats and dogs and for the people who love them. With your help, we can provide a brighter future they, too, deserve.

It is an honor to serve our community of Columbus and the Chattahoochee Valley.

4900 Milgen Road Columbus pawshumane.org office@pawshumane.org (706) 565-0035 • Vet Clinic (706) 987-8380

Raivis Williamson & Family

access to them otherwise. This could be anything from complimentary pet food, no or low cost veterinary care, to assistance with finding agencies for housing and support.

The holidays are an especially needed time to support Paws Humane Society, Animal SOS, Animal Ark and many other local rescues.

Here are some ways you can give back: • Get involved and volunteer by participating in Dogs Day Out, walking dogs, cleaning dishes or even assisting with enrichment.

Most are desperately in need of support • Donate food, supplies & other items to your favorite rescue and charity • Start a Facebook Fundraiser for your local animal shelter LocaL

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NOVEMBER -DECEMBER 2021

MEC

MAKING THE FOUNTAIN CITY

INTO A MUSIC CITY

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“ e’ve got to agree on the greater good of music,” Arreasha Z Lawrence says. “We need government, tourism, and music stakeholders to all come together.”

Arreasha, or “Z” as she prefers, began the Music

Entertainment Council to support the music industry in Columbus, encouraging local artists and drawing external interest to grow a new field of opportunity and economic growth.

“Musical Entertainment Council, basically, works to stabilize, sustain, grow, connect, protect - any of that type terminology - music education and resources for anyone in performance,” she explains. “When we break music down, that’s a lot of different jobs and titles that go along with the sound that you hear on the other end of a radio.”

Z began the council in early 2020 as a monthly “Music Advocacy Academy” hosted at Everything Musical, building on the MuSec group, created in 2012 to support young musicians, and the Music Legend Awards, begun in 2016 to show appreciation to artists, and those in entertainment both locally and nationally.

She then teamed up with Georgia Music Partners and the global music consultancy organization Sound Diplomacy. They work together to support the music industry in Columbus. One short-term plan at the state level is to lobby the Georgia Senate in January 2022 to extend and modify the 2017 Musical Production Tax Credit, which is intended to incentivize companies to produce content within Georgia.

After months of behind-the-scenes work, she met formally with Mayor Skip Henderson in August to begin exploring what might be possible for the organization.

The first step is an economic impact assessment (or audit), which will take up to 18 months.

In 2018, nearby Huntsville, Alabama partnered with Sound Diplomacy for a similar audit, leading to the creation of a full-time Music Officer position for the city – the first in the nation – alongside the development of a new amphitheater. “[Doing the audit] is an awesome experience,” she says. “I’ve experienced it through reading other studies LocaL

and other results, but I’m just ready to see the results of this area.”

When it comes to the history of music in Columbus, “everyone knows Ma Rainey,” she says, but other famous music industry professionals from Columbus are less well-known, such as Chet Atkins, Dallas Austin (whose credits include Boyz II Men, TLC, Madonna, and Pink), Rozonda Thomas a.k.a. Chilli from TLC is also from Columbus and producer Devin Johnson, who has worked with Nicki Minaj and Rihanna.

“I like to go all the way back, like go way back,” she adds. “We’re home to the second orchestra in the United States of America.”

The Columbus Symphony Orchestra was formed in 1855, only 13 years after the New York Philharmonic Society. The historic marker outside RiverCenter says Columbus was chosen for having “built for herself a reputation of culture.”

In 1987, Columbus would start a different reputation when, three weeks after the Beastie Boys performed alongside a 20-foot-tall inflatable phallus, an “antilewdness” ordinance was passed to prohibit certain suggestive content or language at any performance attended by minors. Over the next few years, LL Cool J, Too Short, Bobby Brown, and Gene Simmons were charged under the law. After cancelling a planned concert, rapper Ice T name-dropped the city on his October, 1989 album “The Iceberg/Freedom of Speech… Just Watch What You Say!” Ordinance No. 87-32 remains in effect – and controversial - today.

Regardless, the opportunities ahead seem endless to Z. “Hey,” she wonders, “why don’t the first and second orchestras of the United States put something Names From Left to Right: Oz Roberts, Dr. Matthew McCabe, Councilwoman Mimi Woodson, Gary, Wyndhem Ennaemba, Travis Steele, Breanna Maclin, Atty Shawn Pullum, Tacara Hemingway, Dr. Catrina Pullum, Ajai People’s, Felicia Hamilton, Ashley Cooper, Arreasha Z

together? What about productions and festivals, things of that nature?”

More events, she argues, would bring more tourists and help the city hold on to the talent of graduates from Columbus State University’s region-leading art programs, causing ripples of broad, sustained economic growth.

Z invites people to join at MECColumbus.com and to follow the group’s efforts on Instagram and Facebook under Music Entertainment Council.

Through this collaborative effort, she hopes to bring Columbus more jobs, more tourism, and more opportunities to listen so that one day “people are booking flights directly to Columbus.”

She imagins what it will be like to look back on the MEC’s work years from now, after Columbus has grown into a musical and cultural powerhouse she knows it can be.

“Wow,” she says we will say. “We worked hard, we worked together, and look at us now.”u 5

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here are few things less powerful than a photograph, and Columbus’ own The Do Good Fund is harnessing the power of an image to help its visitors make sense of the shared identity created by living in the South. The photographs and images presented by this charitable organization celebrate the lives and traditions of Southerners in ways that seem both familiar and innovative.

The Do Good Fund Inc. is a charity that serves as a lending library of photographs, offering works

What is

Inc.?

By Sundi Rose

exclusively from contemporary Southern artists of all walks of life. Founded in 2012 by Alan Rothschild, The Do Good Fund is, “focused on building a museumquality collection of photographs taken in the American South since World War II.” The collection is extensive and holds photos from some of the most well-known Southern photographers as well as images taken by emerging photographers, including graduate students at the University of Georgia. Most notably, however, are the twenty or so Guggenheim Fellows contained in the collection, which make the gallery one of the most diverse and well-curated collections in the area. In fact, the artist currently on display, Paul Kwilecki, is the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship himself.

The mission of The Do Good Fund is to make its 700+ images broadly accessible to museums, eclectic collections, nonprofit galleries, and the art-appreciating

Jimmy Nicholson Fishing Under the Trestle, Cheney Griffin Park, Bainbridge, GA Image: 1980/printed: 2020 Gelatin silver print 11 3/4 x 8 3/4 in.

The Do Good Fund, Inc., 2020-066

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public at large. The gallery hopes to get as many eyes as possible on as many of the photographs as possible, making public access a major priority for Do Good.

Eliza Daffin, gallery coordinator and a photographer 6

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Jimmy Nicholson Mr. Jessie Ector’s Tailor Shop, 220 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, Bainbridge, GA Image: 1977/printed: 2020 Gelatin Silver Print 9 3/4 x 6 1/2 in.

The Do Good Fund, Inc., 2020-070

herself, offered me a tour of the new space on 12th avenue and told me a little about the featured artists currently on display and all the exciting new stuff coming up for the gallery.

Daffin knew so much about the photographs hanging on the walls and in the upper storage loft and was quick to offer tidbits about the

to see their place immortalized in a photo.

Currently hanging on the walls of the spacious and airy gallery is the “Close to Home” exhibition with work from Jimmy Nicholson and Paul Kwilecki. The installments feature black and white photos of their shared hometown of Bainbridge with Nicholson’s work extending into images of his travels around the Southeast and the Florida panhandle.

Nicholson is a protege of the other artist on display, Paul Kwilecki, whose careful eye was trained on the small-town life of Decatur County, chronicling the day-to-day lives of his neighbors and friends.

In addition to artists such as these, The Do Good Fund has hundreds of other photographs in a bright and rustic space upstairs, just waiting to make their way to institutions all around the Southeast. Walking around all the photos of the diaspora of the Southern experience was both poignant and grounding, as I saw the many faces of the treasured Southern culture so many of us value.

In addition to the work currently on display, The Do Good Fund also works to connect the artists with the public through a series of talks and exhibitions. During these interactions, the photographers can offer depth to the experience by giving insight into their own inspirations and process. Nicholson came in early November to discuss the very photographs currently featured in the gallery, offering new dimensions to what you can see in the frames on the wall.

On November 19th, The Chattahoochee Riverkeeper’s Rivers and Land, organized by Henry Jacobs, featuring Columbus’ own Fred and Cathy Fussell will appear. The exhibition is themed around local rivers and tributaries of the nearby South. Cathy is an accomplished

Jimmy Nicholson Juke Joint on Hwy 27, Early County, GA Image: 1980/printed: 2020 Gelatin Silver Print 8 5/8 x 11 1/2 in.

The Do Good Fund, Inc., 2020-068

images and photographers. I thought surely she was reading from note cards, but she is just that enthusiastic about a project which is providing more and more Southerners a chance LocaL

quilter, whose work contemplates the kinship between Southern waterways and the communities which depend on them. Her husband, Fred, is a photographer, painter, and writer whose work focuses on the people of the American South. Their work will be on display from late November through the holidays.

The Do Good Fund gallery has been open to the public since May of this year and its mission is to offer new interpretations of the 7

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Jimmy Nicholson Women Crossing Broad Street, Bainbridge, GA, 1978 Gelatin Silver Print 6 x 8 3/4 in.

The Do Good Fund, Inc., 2020-057

life and experience of the contemporary south.

While the themes and motifs continue to change from artist to artist, the heart of the collections is meant to honor our shared pride of place.

What is so special about this particular entity, beyond its value as an agent for Southern art, is its capacity to connect the art with the subject matter.

Prioritizing the reciprocity between the art itself and its focus, the various collections speak to the heart of what makes Southern culture unique and precious.

Harry Crews was a renowned Southern writer

Jimmy Nicholson Women Crossing Broad Street, Bainbridge, GA, 1978 Gelatin Silver Print 6 x 8 3/4 in.

The Do Good Fund, Inc., 2020-057

Jimmy Nicholson Apalachicola Waterfront Viewed from the Gorrie Bridge Image 1982/printed 2020 Gelatin Silver Print 8 1/8 x 11 1/8 in.

The Do Good Fund Inc. 2020-060

who wrote about the biography of place. He often mused about what an artist’s job is, and it feels particularly applicable to the work in the collections of The Do Good Fund gallery. He writes, “The [artist’s] job is to get naked. To hide nothing. To look away from nothing. To look at it.

To not blink. To be not embarrassed or shamed of it. Strip it down and let’s get down to where the blood is, the bone is.”

The Do Good Foundation is open to the public at 111 12th Street suite 103 on Wednesday through Friday from 1 to 5 pm and Saturdays 10 to 3 pm. You can browse the collections not currently on display on their website thedogoodfund.org or email dogoodfund@gmail.comu LocaL

Jimmy Nicholson Family Under the Tapper Bridge, Highland View, FL, 2017 Gelatin Silver Print 7 3/4 x 11 1/2 in.

The Do Good Fund, Inc., 2020-065

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options for the conscious shopper. Real Canadian maple syrup can be found in the store, as well as seafood fresh from New England which is caught, frozen, and shipped overnight. The fish is “Better than what you’ll find in a chain grocery store,” Jason remarked. In addition, Old Town Provisions is the only store in Columbus that sells Dr. Squatch soap products, which ordinarily must be ordered online.

By Natalie Downey

Something Old, Something New & Plenty Of Support For Local Business

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town wouldn’t be complete without a general store, and a brand new shop in Old Town (8201 Veterans Pkwy) has brought that missing element to the charming southern-style community.

Old Town Provisions is a full-service market unlike any other in Columbus, offering everyday, familiar items like spaghetti sauce and toothpaste as well as specialty products that are hard or impossible to find anywhere else in the area.

Owners Jason and Lisa Breaux opened the doors to their store in September after recognizing a need for something that Old Town didn’t have. The charming community of Old Town is a mix Lisa & Jason Breaux of both residential and commercial space, and is designed to resemble, well, an old town. One of the neighborhood’s appeals is its amenities and the convenience of

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shopping, dining, and going to the optician all in one’s neighborhood.

This is why Old Town Provisions chose a perfect spot when they chose to set up shop in Old Town.

Just a walk away for residents, and conveniently located in the shopping area for daytime visitors, the store is the perfect stop on the way home for dinner ingredients after a long day, or to browse for something delicious on a lazy Saturday.

A convenient shopping experience plus a loyalty to supporting local businesses are the bread and butter of Old Town. “We try to work with as many local vendors as possible,” says Jason. “I really believe in supporting small and local businesses.”

“You can come in here and get everything you need to make a meal,” Jason pointed out. From lobster tail to ice cream, the store sells each element needed to host the perfect dinner. But for the person who doesn’t have time or perhaps would rather not make a meal, Old Town Provisions works in collaboration with The Food Mill in Columbus to offer fully prepared, healthy meals for individuals or families.

Among the many locally made offerings in Old Town Provisions are locally grown fresh, organic produce, locally sourced sausages and eggs from Turntime Farms, coffee from Fountain City Coffee, kombucha from Beejou Kombucha, local yogurt from Pecan Point Farm in Hurtsboro, local honey, fresh meat from Woodhouse Meat Market, specialty cheeses, and a lot more.

When local options aren’t available, Jason focuses on selling consciously-crafted, highquality products from reputable vendors. The store is stocked with specialty vegan and organic products as well as keto products, and many other

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While the unique, high-quality items make Old Town Provisions a one-of-a-kind spot in Columbus, what really sets the shop apart is the owners’ commitment to quality service and conscious businessownership. “Really it all comes down to just dealing with people,” said Jason. “The stuff in the store is one thing, but people having a place to go where they feel comfortable is another.”

Undoubtedly, it is a breath of fresh air for the grocery store shopper to walk into a place that is thoughtfully stocked with well-made products, being run by a local

neighbor who just wants to support his community and fellow small business-owners. It’s a place that one wants to revisit time and time again, to peruse the array of specialty items, and to enjoy the small-town feel of this Old Town market.

Upcoming plans for Old Town Provisions will include beer and wine products within the next week and freshly brewed coffee from Fountain City Coffee.

Hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 8 am to 8 pm, Saturday from 9 am to 8 pm, and Sunday from 11 am to 4 pm. 3500 C Massee Lane, you can visit the website OTprovisions.com where you can order for pick up, call em up at 762.524.7715 or email Jason and Lisa directly at : OldTownProvisions@gmail.comu

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The Meaning Of Home This exhibition, co-curated by Curator of American Art Jonathan Frederick Walz and Director of Education & Engagement Lucy Kacir, explores the evolution of the meaning and function of home through photography. Throughout the chaos of the past 18 months, our relationships with our homes have changed as our lives have changed. The curators hope to document this shift and encourage reflection on the lessons to carry forward.

Every Day that the museum is open through July 31, 2022. The Columbus Museum Monday Night Comedy Come out for the laughs and enjoy several styles of local art. Hosted by James Etchison.

Every Monday night, Heritage Art Center, 541 2nd Avenue, Columbus No Shame Theatre Please welcome our new NO SHAME Theatre host team. Will Oliver, Kevan Baxley and Jasper Howell as they tag team and together seek to take No Shame to the next level with increased variety and quality. You already know these three as comics, improv artists, actors and writers and they will be working to bring some cool innovations to the No Shame stage. Audiences will be masked and limited to a total of 70. #foreverspringer #noshame.

Every Friday at 10:00 p.m. The show will start promptly at 10:30, The Springer Saloon (First Avenue entrance) Market Days on Broadway Uptown Columbus’ Market Days on Broadway takes place year-round. The Market features 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 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 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 Food Truck Friday Come to the Garden for Food Truck Friday. Drive-by Tacos will be here from. Check out their menu and enjoy your picnic. For their menu and more check out their pages @ drivebytacos. Friday, April 2, 11:00-1:00 p.m, The Columbus Botanical Garden Drawing For The District Please Join the Historic District Preservation Society in their Annual Fundraiser. This year’s event will feature an in person Art Show along with an Instagram Art Auction.

The Instagram Auction will begin the same night. All proceeds will go to the Historic District Preservation Society. Online Auction Nov 4 - November 13. In person reception and viewing, Thursday, Nov.4, 5 - 8 p.m., Heritage Art Center, Columbus Run for Hope 5K All proceeds from this race will go to support Hopegivers International. Hopegivers International promotes advocacy for abandoned, and at-risk children in the nations of India, Nepal, Myanmar and Haiti. Their mission is to assist the needy and the oppressed in collaboration with ministry partners. We want to educate those we rescue and give them an opportunity to impact their culture in a positive way. Saturday, November 6, 8 a.m., Run for Hope 5K, 1000 Bay Ave, Columbus Military Suicide Awareness Community Event Mission 22 is a national community supporting active service members, Veterans, and their family members, through three areas of focus: Support and Treatment Programs, Social Impact, and Memorials. All proceeds from Raffle ticket sales to benefit Mission 22. In conjunction with the raffle fundraiser, there will be live music, a carshow, food & much more. Special music by: #tylerhateslife. Saturday, November 6, 11 a.m., Military Suicide Awareness Community Event, 3791 Opelika Rd, Phenix City Sisters of Battle VFW post 665 is honored to present a dinner theater stage play to honor female veterans.To purchase tickets please call (706) 687-6656/(706) 641-9550.This event is LocaL

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open to the public. Saturday, November 6, 7 p.m., Sisters of Battle, 1824 Victory Dr, Columbus It Came From Storage This exhibition provides the opportunity to retrieve old favorites and new acquisitions from storage, as well as works that have rarely—or never—been on view. The show will also address some “behind the scenes” mechanics of day-today curatorial operations. November 6 - February 27, It Came From Storage, The Columbus Museum, Columbus The Price Is Right - Live Stage Show Sunday, November 7, 7:30 – 10:30 p.m., Columbus Civic Center Artful Babies Babies are art. Join us and learn about the world of art with your child. Each month we will explore a different theme and discover what our youngest visitors are drawn to during their museum visit. Each session includes a playtime to explore books and hands-on objects as well as an art activity for children and their caregivers to complete together. Space is limited, so sign up today. Tuesday, November 9,13 10:30 a.m., Artful Babies, The Columbus Museum NIM Kids Veterans Day Mini Camp Enjoy crafts, activities and history lessons about our nation during the Veterans Day Mini Camp at the National Infantry Museum! Register soon as limited spots are available. Date: Thursday, Cost: $10 per camper. Open to ages 5-11 years old.

Campers are asked to bring lunch. The Concessions Stand will be available. For more information contact the Education Department at 706-685-2614 or email campdirector@nationalinfantryfoundation.org. Thursday, November 11, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., NIM Kids Veterans Day Mini Camp, National Infantry Museum Veterans Day Join us at VFW Post 665 for free Food and comradeship as we celebrate those served. Active Duty, Reserves, Veterans, VFW and VFW AUX and their families.

Thursday, November 11, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., Veterans Day at VFW Post 665 Moina Michael, 1824 Victory Dr, Columbus 12th Annual Holiday Wish List Party Join us for our 12th Annual Holiday Wish List Party! Enjoy Live Music from Llyod Buchanan, Let’s Graze & Wine App’s, Sips & More, while creating your Holiday Wish List. Friday, November 12, 5 – 8 p.m., 12th Annual Holiday Wish List Party, Uptown Exclusives, 1025 Broadway, Columbus Trey Guthrie & The Dirt Road Republic at Aces on 80 Come help us celebrate Ace and Seth’s birthdays. With special guest Trey Guthrie & The Dirt Road Republic performing live on stage from 9pm to 1am. 10.00 cover at the door. It’s gonna be the biggest party of the year. You don’t wanna miss it.

Saturday, November 13, 9 p.m., Aces on 80, Ladonia James and The Giant Peach It’s the tale of James Henry Trotter and his daring escapades with his five buggy friends, his evil aunts Spiker and Sponge, and a silly assortment of kooky acquaintances. James and the Giant Peach is a hilarious experience that explores the unlimited universe of childhood imagination. November 12, 13, 19, 20 at 7:00

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pm and November 14 and 21 at 2:00 p.m. Season Tickets are on sale now at springeroperahouse.org or by calling 706-327-3688. Presented in McClure Theatre at the Springer Smiths Station Holiday Bazaar Come cross off items on your Christmas shopping list at our Smiths Station Holiday Bazaar. Local businesses and vendors will be present for this event at the Smiths Station Government Center, which lasts from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. If you are interested in being a vendor, please find our Facebook event page.

Saturday, November 13, 9 – 2 p.m., Smiths Station Glass Maker’s Workshop - Holiday Ornaments All materials included and absolutely no experience necessary. Please read the safety guidelines on the registration page carefully before making a purchase.

There is no glassblowing included in this glass. The ornaments will be made as participants spin the hot glass. Advanced registration is required. $55 for members/future members. Saturday, November 13, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., The Columbus Museum Frogwarts Join Oxbow for a day of magical science with Care of Magical Creatures, Science of Magic, Quidditch, the Muggle Museum and more. $5 admission, 3 & Under Free. Grab your robes and purchase your tickets online now at oxbow.columbusstate.edu. Entrance is limited and not guaranteed at the door without prior ticket purchase. Saturday, November 13,11a.m. - 3 p.m., Oxbow Meadows Environmental Learning Center at Columbus State University Photography Workshop In-person photography workshop consists of one 5 hour meeting for $175. There is a limit of 10 learners per workshop. We’ll meet downtown at Iron Bank Coffee Company, go over the basics of photography. Then walk along Broadway and take some pictures to practice items we went over. Visit our event page on getlocatix.com to sign up or visit our facebook page. Saturday, November 13, 1 – 6 p.m., S. Andrew Photography Parent and Child Workshop Join us for an afternoon of creativity and fun as we explore a variety of printmaking techniques. All activities will take place outside and each family will have a socially distanced work station. Saturday, November 13, 2 p.m., The Columbus Museum The Greats: Beethoven & Schubert Violinist Benjamin Beilman, recipient of the BorlettiBuitoni Trust Fellowship, Avery Fisher Career Grant, and London Music Masters Award joins the CSO to play Beethoven’s masterful violin concerto. Schubert’s “Great” C Major symphony concludes the concert.

Sponsored by TSYS. Saturday, November 13, 7:30 – 9:15 p.m., RiverCenter for the Performing Arts No Ma’am Meet/Greet No Ma’am! is a sisterhood of kickass, vibrant, and age defying women. We are embracing life after 40, taking on new challenges, and living our best life. As a member of No Ma’am. You’ll meet a host of other dynamic women. We have gathered to exchange thoughts, ideas, and experiences through comments, pictures, and posts. We also are here to uplift, encourage, and educate each other. We are also ready to make a positive difference and bring our sisters along with us. Ladies, join us Sunday and meet your local No Ma’amers. Sunday, November 14, 4 p.m., 5600 Milgen Road, Columbus 2021 Holiday Mart at Green Island Country Club Join us for this annual Holiday event and celebrate the season and shop local artist and creatives in the Continued On p.19 LocaL

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Around Town Continued From p.13 GICC Grand Ballroom. This even is open to the public.

Wednesday, November 17, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., Green Island Country Club, Columbus Heroes of America Marathon Half Marathon, 5k, and Team Challenges. Friday, November 19, 11 a.m. – NOV 20 8 p.m., Heroes of America Marathon, National Infantry Museum Live Music with AK Senn at AC Hotel We are excited to have AK back performing. All different genres. Public Welcome / Drink Specials. Friday, November 19, 6 - 9 p.m., AC Hotel, 1225 Broadway, Columbus Candlelight Weekends Experience a traditional Christmas in a charming small town. Santa’s welcome parades on Friday & Saturday, November 19 & 20 at 6:30 PM. Traditional hometown Christmas parade on Saturday, November 20 at 11 AM. Shop until 10 PM on opening weekend and until 8 PM on following Fridays & Saturdays. Visit us online at www.MeriwetherTourism.com. Fridays & Saturdays, November 19 thru December 18 in Historic Warm Springs, Ga RiverCenter Presents: Little River Band in Concert Little River Band was honorably dubbed “the best singing band in the world” by Eagles founding member, the late Glenn Frey. The group has undergone an evolution or two since its origins as an Australian rock band hungry to make it in America. Fans nostalgic for their hit songs tunes can join us for a night of fantastic music, memories and more. Tickets rivercenter.org. Friday, November 19, 7:30 – 10 p.m., RiverCenter for the Performing Arts Holiday Market The market will host local vendors, samples and refreshments in the shop, holiday sales, and complimentary gift wrap.

Saturday, November 20, noon, The Columbus Museum Teen Printmaking Workshop Create your own unique prints! Join us for an afternoon of fun and discovery as we explore printmaking. Each participant will be seated at their own table with supplies. Saturday, November 20, 2 – 3:30 p.m., The Columbus Museum Walk Reunion Comedy Show @ Aces on 80 Jerry Farber returns from his walk from Columbus to Savannah with laughs and stories in hand. Joined by special guests James Etchison and I-Hop aka “Hoppy”.

Online tickets available at getlocaltix.com. $5 door.

Saturday, November 20, 8 p.m., Aces on 80, Ladonia 7th Annual Black Friday Pop Up Shop “Outdoor Mall”. November 26,10 a.m. - 2 p.m., The Place, 1828 Midtown Drive, Columbus Bluebelle’s Outdoor Holiday Market Saturday, November 27, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., 2301 Airport Thruway, Columbus SHINE at Columbus Botanical Garden Proudly presented by TSYS. Make holiday memories the family will cherish. Hundreds-of-thousands of lights. A Walk-of-Stars. Pictures with Santa. S’mores, crafts, and a vendor market. December 2, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, 22, 23 & 28. Vendor market December 4 - 5. Info, times and ticket ColumbusBotanicalGarden.org. Columbus 2nd Annual Teen Advisors Benefit Christmas Market Thursday, December 2, 5 – 8 p.m., Fort Benning Harley Davidson, 3230 Williams Rd, Columbus The Wizard of OZ The timeless musical adventure about a Kansas girl and her little dog who are scooped up by a tornado and carried over the rainbow to the Land of Oz. Discover that there really is No Place Like Home. December 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 16, 17, and 18 at 7:30 pm and December 4, 11, 12, 18, and 19 at 2:30 p.m. Season Tickets are on sale LocaL

now at springeroperahouse.org or by calling 706-3273688. The Springer Opera House Martina McBride Joy of Christmas Tour Most recently, Martina was honored with the Cliffie Stone Icon Award at the ACM Honors event for her impactful contributions to country music. Her RiverCenter Joy of Christmas performance will also include songs from the newly released album, “Martina McBride White Christmas.”

Tickets:rivercenter.org. Thursday, December 2, 7:30 p.m., RiverCenter for the Performing Arts Wynnbrook Holiday Marketplace Our 8th annual vendor fair is coming up and we can’t wait! We will have tons of vendors, door prizes, gift ideas and fun. Friday, December 3, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m., 500 River Knoll Way, Columbus Ebenezer Scrooge The Musical Let us delight you with this classic tale told through all new songs. This new musical has been born as a labor of love from a truly exceptional songwriter who desired to capture this profound message with music. Share the meaning of kindness, generosity, and goodwill to all men with Ebenezer Scrooge the Musical. December 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18 at 7:30 & 19 matinee at 2:30. Family Theatre. org. 706.431.3752, Family Theatre, 2100 Hamilton Road, Columbus Canadian Brass Holiday Tour The hallmark of any Canadian Brass performance is entertainment, spontaneity, virtuosity and, most of all, fun – but never at the expense of the music: Whatever the style, the music is central and performed with utmost dedication, skill and excellence. Tickets: rivercenter. org. Friday, December 3, 7:30 p.m., RiverCenter for the Performing Arts Holiday Ornament & Coffee Klatsch Come join us on December 4 to create a NIM themed, holiday decoration. Enjoy a light breakfast and create vintage crafts on World War II Company Street. $20 per person - includes refreshments and crafting materials. call 706-685-2614 for more information. Saturday, December 4, 9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., National Infantry Museum Pancakes with Santa Event by Southern Roots Country Store Uptown.

Saturday, December 4, 9 a.m., 1207 Broadway, Columbus Four Leaf Clovers: Music Under the Dome Series Starting with Irish band Wolf and Clover, headed by Dr. Matthew McCabe. Performing a number of Irish arrangements including The Congress, The Walton Jig, and Phrygian Whistle with a nod to the rich musical history of Ireland. Schwob pianist Longfei Li will perform Mendelssohn’s stunningly wonderful Variations, op. 54. The program will conclude with our Schwob Clarinet Quartet, who will offer the American premiere of Victoriano Valencia’s Negro y Oscuro. Tuesday, December 7, 5 p.m., Columbus State University’s CocaCola Space Science Center W.I.L.D. Social Night Come join us for our monthly meetup at Banks Food Hall - where we have a chance to catch up with one another, talk about past trips and learn about upcoming adventures! This is a great time to come meet many of the ladies involved with WILD, and to bring a gal pal that might be interested in joining us. Tuesday, December 7, 6 p.m., BANKS Food Hall The Holiday Hop featuring the Drifters, the Platters and Cornell Gunter’s Coasters Combined with their rich catalog of over 30 million best sellers that define 60s music and the pre-Motown sound and the abundance of extra-added family fare, the show has truly become a holiday season tradition and the longest-running Christmas show in America playing to more than 500,000 fans over the years. Friday, December 10, 7:30 p.m., RiverCenter for the Performing Arts 14

Warm Up America Hat and Scarf Turn-in We will be turning in our hats and scarves. They will be passed out to the homeless charities in our area.

Refreshments will be served. There will be door prizes.

Thank you for thinking of others. Saturday, December 11, 10 a.m., Britt David Baptist Church A Tuna Christmas How could we celebrate our 150th Anniversary Season without the most popular show in Springer history? Find out why people say, “It just isn’t Christmas without A Tuna Christmas!” December 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, 23 at 7:30 pm and 19 at 2:00 p.m. Season Tickets are on sale now at springeroperahouse.org or by calling 706-327-3688.

Presented in McClure Theatre at the Springer Opera House Open Studio: Seasonal Greeting Cards Join us outside for a special Open Studio. Reserve a table for your family and join us as we design and create seasonal greeting cards. Registration required. December 16 & 18, 5 – 6 p.m., The Columbus Museum Big Dog Jingle Distance: 5K Course: 5K Course Race Start Time: 9:00am Cost: $30. Award Categories: 1st, 2nd & 3rd Overall M/F; 1st Masters M/F; 10-yr age groups up to 60+. T-Shirt: To be guaranteed a shirt be registered

by December 9, 2021. Description: Come run the Big Dog Jingle and spread Christmas cheer all around for all to hear. Benefiting Micah’s Promise Packet Pick Up: December 17, 2021 at Big Dog Fleet Feet on 12 W 11th St from 12-6 PM More info Contact: Reggie Luther at rl@bigdogfleetfeet.com. Saturday, December 18, 9 a.m., Big Dog Fleet Feet The Nutcracker A holiday tradition like none-other. Performing back at the RiverCenter stage. Two shows. Visit rivercenter.org for more information. Saturday, December 18, 2:30 and 7:30 p.m., Presented by Columbus Ballet at RiverCenter for the Performing Arts Beautillion Ball 2021 In the over 40 years since inception, we have generously donated over $50,000 to the Jack and Jill Foundation, as well as national and local charities including Girls’ Inc., Boys and Girls Club, Habitat for Humanity, The Liberty Theatre & Cultural Arts Center, the West Georgia Cancer Coalition, and many more. Our 2021 Beau class will be comprised of outstanding young men chosen from the Greater Chattahoochee Valley area and our Jack & Jill membership. Tickets: www.colgabeau.com. Saturday, December 18, 7 p.m., 801 Front Ave, Columbus A Superhero for All Seasons Sam loves playing superhero so much that she refuses to take off her favorite costume. But as seasons change, even her superpowers can’t keep her warm. Join Sam on her journey to learn about seasons and weather in this outof-world theatre event at the Coca-Cola Space Science Center, located at 701 Front Avenue. January 15 and 22 at 9:30 am, 11:00 am and 2:00 pm and January 16 and 23 at 2:00. The Springer Opera House ACE: The Eugene Bullard Story

By Natalia Temesgen. He’s the most famous American hero you’ve never heard of. Prize fighter, vaudevillian, jockey, jazz impresario, spy and friend of European royalty, Eugene Bullard was a kid from Columbus who won the French Croix de Guerre at the Battle of Verdun and became the world’s first black fighter pilot during World War I. Discover the breathtaking life story of this inspiring “Hidden Figure.”January 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, and 29 at 7:30 pm and January 23 and 30 at 2:30 p.m. Presented in Emily Woodruff Hall (main stage) at the Springer Season Tickets are on sale now at springeroperahouse.org or by calling 706-327-3688. The Springer Opera House Want to see your event listed here?

Email:eventsthelocalcolumbus.com NOVEMBER -DECEMBER 2021

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A “ WAV E ” C O M E S T O T H E R I V E R C E N T E R H I S T O R I C T H E AT R E O R G A N W I L L L I G H T U P T H I S H O L I D AY S E A S O N

he first time I saw a theatre organ in use, I thought T it was fake. It was in the Rylander Theatre, in Americus, just before the first show of the season. The

organ, wrapped around the musician like a musical capsule and almost over his head, seemed to have more keys than I could ever hope to count. A rainbow of colors (well beyond the familiar blacks and whites) blazed from around his jacketed shoulders. And the sound – the richness you could feel in that historic tone made me feel like the past had come into that small town theatre and come alive again. It was breathtaking.

Now Columbus has one of its very own.

With the help of Dr. Marie JureitBeamish through the Atlanta Chapter of the American Theatre Organ Society, “The Wave” theatre organ found a new home in our RiverCenter – and you can see it in it’s glorious action this holiday season, for free, at Legacy Hall on December 4th for a community holiday singalong. It will be just one step in what is sure to be a long new run for this historic instrument in Columbus – ready to bring music, theatre and art to life in the fountain city.

What is a theatre organ?

The history of theatre organs can be traced to entertainment venues in the mid-teens through the late 1920s, when entertainment across the country centered around silent movies and Vaudeville. During their heyday, thousands of movie houses depended on live musical accompaniment, providing the primary usage of the original theatre organs until the “talkies” – movies with sound – became mainstream in the early 1930s. In the decades to follow, some organs were destroyed when their theatres were torn down, but some found their way into churches or private home installations.

The American Theatre Organ Society was founded in 1955 to save as many of these instruments as possible.

While there were originally several thousand theatre organs, today only a few hundred remain.. RiverCenter’s GW IV has four keyboards with the equivalent voices of 33 ranks of pipes. The GW IV also features percussion (glockenspiel, xylophone, chimes, etc.) and “traps” (cymbals, snare drums, tambourines and castanets) making the GW IV the full equivalent of a large theatre pipe organ. The sound is amazing.

RiverCenter’s Allen GW IV was originally owned by South Florida pipe organ enthusiast Cal Jureit. Jureit’s LocaL

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wife, Dr. Marie Jureit-Beamish, decided to carry on Cal’s legacy and love of the theatre organ and began hosting a series of concerts in her home. As the former Director of Music at Principia College in Alton, IL, Dr. Jureit shared her passion for music through these “Jureit Musicale’’ concerts presenting some of the finest theatre organists in the world, both in concert and in silent film presentations with theatre organ accompaniment (what the original theatre organs of the 1920s were intended to do). She contacted Ken Double, organist for Atlanta’s Fox Theatre, President of ACATOS, and frequent performer at the Jureit Musicales, to see if he could assist her in finding a home for the organ.

As Double tells the story: “It’s funny how one door closes, and another door opens.

One initial potential for the organ was a church south of Atlanta, and it appeared that might be the new home.

But a change of heart from church leaders opened another door, and in stepped RiverCenter E x e c u t i v e Director, Norm Easterbrook. Mr. Easterbrook and ACATOS have a relationship dating to Norm’s tenure at the Rylander Theatre in Americus, GA, home to a Möller theatre pipe organ.

When Norm found out about the Allen organ being available, the phone lines and internet waves started burning immediately.

“With three different theatres, and a portable installation that only digital technology can provide, this Allen GW IV has not one, but three new homes in which the patrons of the RiverCenter can enjoy the music of the theatre organ, be it in full “pops concert” mode; silent film accompaniment; or simply making enjoyable pre-show music for attendees to enjoy.

Opportunity, good fortune, and timing. How fortuitous it is that this wonderful donation by Dr. Marie JureitBeamish found its way to the ACATOS, which found a highly interested and motivated Executive Director in Norm Easterbrook, to bring this great musical addition to the RiverCenter.”

Easterbrook acknowledges that the Allen GW IV’s digital technology and portable installation made it the perfect instrument for RiverCenter, allowing for use in all three of RiverCenter’s concert halls. “We are profoundly grateful for the gift of this theatre organ to RiverCenter.

Really, it is a gift to the Columbus community and the surrounding region as it will delight audiences in 16

whatever way it is presented here at RiverCenter. You can’t help but smile and feel good when you hear a theatre organ because they are just pure fun.”

The upcoming free Sing-Along will feature John McCall & Crystal Clarke-Reid, two accomplished musicians who will lead the crowd into a wonderful start to the season. The show will feature many Christmas classics to sing along with as a community.

McCall, one of the performers, has played in shows and given concerts throughout the South, and was instrumental in securing the 3/11 Möller organ for

the Rylander Theatre in Americus, Georgia where he serves as house organist. He has played for numerous productions of the Sumter Players and was featured with Mickey Rooney and President Jimmy Carter and his first lady, Rosalynn.

Clarke-Reid, esteemed vocalist, cellist, and organist, was born in Clinton, Massachusetts to parents of Jamaican heritage. Her vocal career began as a youngster, singing at home and church. She started a vocal group with six girls called the Crystals of Harmony, singing at various churches and events. As a cellist, Crystal played and toured with the New England Youth Ensemble to many of the Caribbean Islands, Poland, Czechoslovakia, France, Italy, England and Hungary. She has performed in world famous venues such as the Notre Dame and Chartres cathedrals in France, the Dom in Salzburg, and London’s St Martin in the Fields, as well as New York’s St. Patrick’s cathedral and Carnegie Hall.

“We want families, kids, anyone of all ages to come out and enjoy this amazing performance. This will be a great, great way to start the holiday season, it really will be,” said Easterbrook.

For more information contact RiverCenter’s box office by phone at 706-256-3612 or by email at boxoffice@ rivercenter.org.u

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Artist Spotlight

Jaclayvious Emmanuel

By Sundi Rose

a world full of art and artists, finding new is like finding out Hershey’s Iis nsomeone making a new candy, and Jaclayvious Emmanuel is just that. A wonderful surprise.

the intricacies of old Earth creation as he can about Japanese culture. Although he doesn’t like to talk about himself at length, it is very easy to see that still waters run extremely

Untitled - 2019 Acrylic, Paint Marker & Charcoal on Canvas

Born here in Columbus, he has also lived in Seattle, Detroit and Atlanta before returning to this comfortable home a few years ago.

Jaclayvious, aka Clay, has as much talent as he has humility. As we sat talking I learned he is a painter, who mostly lends his time to oil, acrylic, and chalk, and still has a passion for street art and graffiti. He is also a person

him what he’s really loving right now, he names Frank Ocean as one of his favorites. And he absolutely lights up when he talks about his skating community at the Cuckoo’s Nest (1326 10th Ave). It’s a small, supportive group, and he draws a lot of inspiration from the people in his circle. He informed me he’s been skating since he could walk, and says it’s deeply entangled with his love and appreciation of hip hop and it”s certainly reflected in his work.

Deeply religious, he draws from his faith as a Christian and his experience as a former atheist. You can hear how thoughtful he is about his own beliefs and value system, and it’s his faith that fuels the themes of human connection and hope in his work. He will find himself inadvertently working Biblical stories or figures into his pieces, sometimes not even realizing it until he’s deep into it. He is also interested in exploring the conflict between good and bad in humans, and a lot of his work reflects his belief in the nature of humans to want to strive for good.

Self-taught, his roots are in technical drawing. He was seven the first time he remembers sketching something and feeling really proud of it, although he was reluctant to even tell this story

deep. He is incredibly warm and inviting.

Jaclayvious definitely doesn’t fit the mold of what society considers a man of his age to be. He stated that he isn’t “trendy” and chuckled a little when I asked him if he was

Jaclayvious Emmanuel

who values his community, particularly his skateboarding collective, in a big way.

I found all of his work strikingly genuine and palpable.

At just 28 years old, you may think him shy at first, but you’ll quickly find he is an old soul. You’ll catch him reading philosophers like Alvin Carl Plantinga, who loves to contemplate religion, epistemology, and logic. He can just as easily talk to you about the ideas of astrophysicist Hugh Ross and LocaL

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on TikTok. Instead he’s the type you’ll find watching classic movies from the 1960s, and particularly if they are French and shot in the anamorphic style.

He admits he is choosy when it comes to the latest movies and music, and when I ask 18

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about himself. He always brings the conversation back around to how he wants his work to make others feel.

He doesn’t even call himself an artist and flinches when I do. While he isn’t after fame or notoriety, he hopes to move the people interacting

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with his work. He wants it to inspire them and remind them to always be open to everything.

To reach out to Jaclayvious or see more of what he’s up to. You can find him on instagram @ jaclayvious or email him directly at vonart@gmail. com. His art is for sale and will be at Heritage Art Center (541 2nd Ave) in Columbus soon. He encourages anyone who connects with any of his work to DM him on Instagram.u 20x20 Acrylic, Paint Marker, Charcoal, Pencil on Canvas Untitled, 2017 Oil, Marker, Acrylic on Wood Panel

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In high school, Jenna joined the culinary club at her school, where she cooked with her lifelong friend Ashley Legieza, who now assists in the running of the shop.

As Jenna gained experience in baking, she began making cakes for friends and family, and “word of mouth spread,” she explained. As interest in her cakes grew, she found herself with a long list of orders, and it only made sense for her to begin an at-home cake-making business she named “The Cake Studio.”

LOCAL BAKERS MAKE LIFE IN COLUMBUS

She makes hand-crafted chocolates and assists Jenna with the daily work of running the business. “I couldn’t do this without her,” Jenna says, thankful for Ashley’s help. And Ashley is thankful as well, “I finally am doing something I love to do,” she said.

Jenna approaches the baking process as a learning experience. “Even if you mess up, it’s a learning opportunity. It isn’t time lost,” she said. This willingness to try again has led to her skill in baking, and her cakes speak to the quality of craftsmanship she has worked to develop.

Custom Cake Studio creates custom cakes for events such as weddings, baby showers, and birthdays. They also cater events with charcuterie boards and grazing tables. In addition, the brightly colored shop sells grab and go sweet treats, charcuterie boxes, and hand-crafted chocolates.

An item Custom Cake Studio has become especially wellknown for is their Saturday Cinnamon Rolls, sold only on Saturday mornings, and only until they sell out. “We usually have a line at the door,” Jenna said. Once the cinnamon rolls sell out, they are gone until the next Saturday.

a Lit t l e Sw eet er wit h N e w C a k e S t u d io

C

By Natalie Downey

ake is the language of celebrations.

From another year of life to a brand new partnership, whatever the occasion, without cake, it just isn’t a party.

Local baker Jenna Poole communicates via flour and sugar and eggs in a perfectly articulated, delectably frosted world, and her new shop Custom Cake Studio is the megaphone that echoes a resounding, celebratory “Hurrah” across our city.

As a little girl, Jenna remembers spending time in the kitchen baking with her mom and grandma. “I’ve always been around good food, good recipes, and women in the kitchen,” Jenna recalled.

Her first experiences with baking and her mother’s willingness to let her participate in the kitchen led to Jenna’s growing interest in cake-making, and gave her the foundational knowledge for experimenting on her own as she tweaked her baking processes through trial and error.

“It was a side, fun thing,” Jenna said, “And it grew.”

As her business grew, Jenna grew in her experience and knowledge as a baker. “Through a lot of self-teaching and practice,” she added.

A full-time teacher, Jenna continued making cakes on the side, creating custom orders for 12 years. She began to focus primarily on her social media presence and building her business in 2018, as she considered the possibility of transitioning to full-time baker.

When the pandemic hit, Jenna was teaching from home, and orders for cakes were coming in daily. Jenna saw this as her chance and made the decision to give her full attention to baking. Still best friends with her culinary counterpart Ashley, the two combined their skills to open Custom Cake Studio in Old Town in July of this year.

A certified chocolatier, Ashley’s skill and creative craftsmanship add an elegant touch to Jenna’s creations.

After working at a family business for 8 years, she jumped at the opportunity to join Jenna in doing what she loves.

Custom Cake Studio makes cakes for all occasions and all people, including people with dietary restrictions. They make egg free, dairy free, and vegan treats via custom order.

As the holidays approach, Jenna and Ashley have plans to make holiday pies which will be available through pre order, and upcoming Christmas specials are in the works.

To order a custom cake, charcuterie board, or other treat from Custom Cake Studio, visit customcakestudioga.com.

Or visit them directly in Old Town at 3540 D Massee Lane Tuesday through Friday 11am – 6pm, Saturday 9am – 2pm.

They are closed Sunday and Monday. But you can call them up at 706.408.0936.

See you in the cinnamon roll line on Saturday.u Christian

Jenna Poole & Ashley Legieza

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No Shame

R ET URNS HONEST EXPRESSION IS NO PROBLEM @ NO SHAME

BY ERICK RICHMAN

hen No Shame Theatre returns to the W Springer Opera House on November 5th, co-hosts Will Oliver, Kevan Baxley, and Jasper

Howell will invite anyone who signs up to do something truly daring: Be vulnerable.

“A lot of people feel that they’re unheard, that they’re not seen,” Will Oliver Will starts, “the phrase being ‘No Shame’ – hey, don’t have any shame to come up here and express yourself. We’re going to take you in wholeheartedly.”

At No Shame Theatre, anyone can sign up for a 5-minute slot to perform their way, with few restrictions: only original material is allowed; no hate speech; nothing can be broken, especially people, things, or laws.

“You can breakdance,” Kevan says, but “you can’t break stuff.”

The goal is to encourage honest self-expression and the genuine community that grows around it.

“At the end of the day,” Will says, “everybody just wants love, right?

Everybody just wants to be understood.”

With No Shame returning after an Kevan Baxley 18-month hiatus, “that’s what I’m most excited about,” he says, “to see people discover that vulnerability, that love and peace within themselves.”

Even though Will now has a few film credits to his name, he still thinks back to his experiences at the Springer Theatre Academy, where he remembers being told “You’re always enough.”

“As a kid,” he recalls, “it’s so rewarding and Jasper Howell so refreshing to hear those words and truly feel that.”

His co-host Kevan shares that love, both for the Springer itself and for the unique opportunity that No Shame offers; now the LocaL

theater’s box office manager, she even had her wedding in the Springer.

“I mean it’s cool [Will] is in movies and stuff,” co-host Kevan says, “but what makes me really excited to work with him is his love for people.”

Their other co-host, Jasper Howell?

“Jasper’s the cool one,” Kevan laughs, “I remember seeing him [when he started at the Springer Academy] for the first time and thinking ‘that little kid is so much cooler than me.’ Guess what? It’s still true.”

“Jasper just has this way that people attract to,” Will agrees, having known Jasper since those Springer Academy days. “It’s his love, but also his coolness, his passion. He’s real like, ‘go with the flow,’ but also really ‘man with the plan.’”

Kevan highlights how No Shame offers the chance to “show more of your whole self.”

“It’s lighting up your brain in ways you’re just not going to get otherwise,” she explains. “It just makes you feel better. Not just feel better… it’s about healing, in a way.”

In exchange for the courage of stepping up, each performer receives an audience intent on

Actor Jim Pharr, hosting at that time, applied the Springer motto of “you’re always enough” to No Shame.

“His goal was for people like me to be born out of it,” Chris describes. “Jim created a space each week for people like me to exist.

Jim’s favorite story of No Shame was me.”

“No Shame is this place,” Will says, “where, it’s still part of the Springer, but it’s for everyday people to get up on the stage and really express themselves. A place where, after you do what you have to do, you can come do what you want to do.”

Kevan, Will, and Jasper plan to carry on that legacy.

seeing, hearing, and appreciating them.

“It’s a captive audience. Their whole purpose for being in that moment is to at least try and connect with me,” says local comedian Chris Hatchett. “You know, they can’t really go anywhere without being rude, so I get to do what I want and say what I want, within reason.”

Chris calls himself “one of the most O.G. members” of the Columbus No Shame group around, having started attending only a year or two after the event began locally in 2009.

Though he is known today for his heartfelt comedy and comfortability on stage, that wasn’t the case then.

“I genuinely thought theater in high school was made up until I went to No Shame,” he explains. “I never had a theater program at my school.”

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Beginning November 5th, No Shame returns each Friday at the Springer Opera House. The doors of the 1st Avenue entrance will open at 10:00 p.m. for performers to sign-up; the show itself begins at 10:30

“It’s the most supportive place you’re going to find on the entire earth,” Kevan suggests. “It’s the warmest room to walk into and do something for the first time.

There is support, feedback, everything you want as a first timer. And that’s amazing.”

“I think that’s so rare, so cool, so loving that people come and make material based on their everyday lives,” Will continues, “they hop on the platform knowing nobody but still feeling the security of getting up there and spilling out their creative expression and it being accepted. That’s one thing many people can’t find.”

Like Chris, local comedian James Etchison wasn’t sure about getting up James Etchison on stage – at first.

“I spent two years writing jokes and procrastinating,” he says, but at No Shame, “I finally went up and started.”

Today, - in Chris Hatchett’s words “James is the best comedian in the city.”

“When I first started, I was kind of trying to prove I deserved to be here, to exist,” James recalls. Now, he says, “it’s important to laugh, and also to say something with comedy. I couldn’t imagine life without it, for certain.”

With No Shame on pandemic hiatus, James started his own open mic night on Mondays at 7:30 p.m. in the Heritage Arts Center, which he plans to continue after No Shame resumes to offer even more space for expression in Columbus.

“I think people just need a place to be heard,” he explains. “They need to be able to create their art and show it to people. So much of performance art requires an audience.”

Chris and James both hope their stories inspire others to take the risk of expressing themselves.

“I had zero experience in performing and now I have people that I call fans,” Chris says. “That’s not to make myself seem important, just to say you don’t need anything to perform other than the will to perform.”

He also has advice for audience members: “Shhh. Just, if you want to come out, great. Just Shhh. You’re making too much noise, probably.”

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p.m. A $5 entry fee is required for both performers and audience members, with beverages available for purchase inside. Only those 18 years of age or older may attend, with proof of age required at the door.

Both performance slots and audience seats are limited.

As well, face masks are required and temperature checks will be performed.

“It’s just literally the purest form of self-expression that might exist in the city,” Chris says. “If I want to be surrounded by locals and talk about something that’s important to me, I don’t know if I’ll be heard anywhere else better than I’m heard at No Shame.” u

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