I hope you had an enjoyable Christmas weekend. This next weekend for New Year's Eve there are plenty of celebrations going on at various bars, clubs, and restaurants around town, but I won't mention them all. As a reminder, my goal on this blog is to provide a sampling of activities every week and prove that Middle Georgia is not boring. So, with that in mind, here's some activities to finish out 2010 and get a start on 2011.
On Tuesday night at 9 pm, the Rookery is offering "Ho Ho...Oh No: Stories About the Holidays." If you're not familiar with the Rookery, it's a great little bar and restaurant on Cherry Street in downtown Macon. Tuesday night's event will be a karaoke/storytelling event where people can tell their best (and worst) stories about the holidays, up to 10 minutes long. Maybe you even have one to share! Even if you don't, you can go grab a burger or an appetizer and your favorite tasty beverage and enjoy some laughs.
Macon claims the title of "Cherry Blossom Capital of the World," and so their signature event for New Year's Eve is naturally the Cherry Blossom Ball Drop in downtown Macon. The festivities start at 9 pm and include music and entertainment. Head down there early to get a parking spot and grab some dinner at any of the fabulous restaurants on Cherry Street.
If you have thought about picking up a new instrument or just want to learn about some Southern culture, drop by the Middle Georgia Dulcimer Music Group at the Georgia Music Hall of Fame on Saturday at 1:00 pm. They meet every first Saturday to share their love of the dulcimer, and they offer a free workshop to teach newcomers how to play the dulcimer. You don't have to own a dulcimer, they are happy to share theirs.
Have a fun-filled New Year!
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Saturday, December 18, 2010
It's Christmas!
It seems like this next week everyone in Middle Georgia is either spending every day with extended family in town or heading out of town. You might be too busy going to Christmas parties or having a quiet dinner with your grandparents to need something to do, but in case you don't have plans this week, or if you need a way to entertain those out-of-town guests, here's your weekly dose of things to do in Middle Georgia.
Tuesday night at 7 pm you can grab a blanket, put on your warmest PJs, and head to downtown Macon for an outdoor viewing of the film Polar Express at the historic Terminal Station. Whether you have kids or not, most people can appreciate this heart-warming Christmas story. Best of all, it's free!
If movies about Santa Claus aren't your thing, you might head to the Cold Chillin' Christmas Party at Caulfield's Vintage Clothing store Thursday night at 9 pm. There will be food, drinks, music, and dancing. There's a $2 cover charge, unless you bring a canned good to feed the hungry! If you're new to town, this is a good place to meet new people.
For something entirely different, head to Mercer University for a basketball game--Mercer is playing against the University of Georgia Thursday night at 7 pm. Tickets are $16. If you can't go Thursday night, check the schedule for games later on, but the Georgia game will definitely be the most exciting game this season.
A good place to entertain out-of-town guests (especially the female ones) is Hay House. This antebellum mansion is called the "Palace of the South," and it's all decked out for the holidays. Guided tours are included with admission and explain both the history of the building itself and the stories of the families who lived there. If you're a real history buff (or know one), splurge for the "Behind-the-Scenes" tour.
Merry Christmas!
Tuesday night at 7 pm you can grab a blanket, put on your warmest PJs, and head to downtown Macon for an outdoor viewing of the film Polar Express at the historic Terminal Station. Whether you have kids or not, most people can appreciate this heart-warming Christmas story. Best of all, it's free!
If movies about Santa Claus aren't your thing, you might head to the Cold Chillin' Christmas Party at Caulfield's Vintage Clothing store Thursday night at 9 pm. There will be food, drinks, music, and dancing. There's a $2 cover charge, unless you bring a canned good to feed the hungry! If you're new to town, this is a good place to meet new people.
For something entirely different, head to Mercer University for a basketball game--Mercer is playing against the University of Georgia Thursday night at 7 pm. Tickets are $16. If you can't go Thursday night, check the schedule for games later on, but the Georgia game will definitely be the most exciting game this season.
A good place to entertain out-of-town guests (especially the female ones) is Hay House. This antebellum mansion is called the "Palace of the South," and it's all decked out for the holidays. Guided tours are included with admission and explain both the history of the building itself and the stories of the families who lived there. If you're a real history buff (or know one), splurge for the "Behind-the-Scenes" tour.
Merry Christmas!
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Scrooge, Handel, Dali, and Camels
If you're still excited about Christmas, there are plenty of events this week to help you feel merry. Broadway comes to the Grand Opera House on Wednesday, Dec. 15 with New York Stage Originals' production, Scrooge. Scrooge is a musical retelling of Dickens' A Christmas Carol. It's sure to warm your heart and get you in the Christmas spirit. If you want a heart-warming musical Christmas performance, but don't have the $28 for a ticket to Scrooge, you should see Handel's Messiah put on by the Choral Society of Middle Georgia with the help of Mercer's music department. Tickets are only $10, and the venue is the beautiful setting of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in downtown Macon. That's happening on Tuesday night at 7:30, and you can buy tickets at the door.
Sometimes the most interesting things to do in Middle Georgia are things that aren't the most widely advertised. While doing a little research on children's programming in the area, I discovered that the Georgia Children's Museum in downtown Macon has a Salvador Dali Traveling Art Exhibit for this week only! It's probably not a very large show, but admission to the museum is only $4. Even if you don't have kids, I've heard that the Children's Museum is really neat. So, if you appreciate art and don't have the time or money to drive to Atlanta for the Dali exhibit at the High Museum of Art, make sure you head over to the Georgia Children's Museum no later than Friday, Dec. 17.
Shirley Hills Baptist Church in Warner Robins takes a deviation from the standard church Christmas musical and makes their Christmas "play" interactive. From Dec. 17 to 19 you can visit a "Walk Thru Bethlehem," complete with camels. Their goal is to make you feel like you're actually in Bethlehem during Jesus' birth. What's even better is that this entertainment is free and fun for all ages.
Sometimes the most interesting things to do in Middle Georgia are things that aren't the most widely advertised. While doing a little research on children's programming in the area, I discovered that the Georgia Children's Museum in downtown Macon has a Salvador Dali Traveling Art Exhibit for this week only! It's probably not a very large show, but admission to the museum is only $4. Even if you don't have kids, I've heard that the Children's Museum is really neat. So, if you appreciate art and don't have the time or money to drive to Atlanta for the Dali exhibit at the High Museum of Art, make sure you head over to the Georgia Children's Museum no later than Friday, Dec. 17.
Shirley Hills Baptist Church in Warner Robins takes a deviation from the standard church Christmas musical and makes their Christmas "play" interactive. From Dec. 17 to 19 you can visit a "Walk Thru Bethlehem," complete with camels. Their goal is to make you feel like you're actually in Bethlehem during Jesus' birth. What's even better is that this entertainment is free and fun for all ages.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
The Holiday Fun Begins
'Tis the season for holiday-themed activities in all shapes and forms. Middle Georgia has a variety of activities in December for kids and grown-ups, some very Christmas-specific, and others only vaguely related. But at least you won't get bored.
One of my favorite things to do in high school was to go ice skating. The Macon Centreplex opens up an ice skating rink every December for only about a month. It costs $10 for a 2.5-hour skating session, including the skates. The sessions start at specific times, so you'll want to go to the Macon Centreplex website to see the exact dates and times.
If you want to help make (or just observe) a new tradition in downtown Macon, an assortment of people involved in downtown Macon, including some local musicians, have gotten together to organize the 1st Annual Caroling Downtown this Friday, Dec 10. The warm-up will be at 6:00 in Third Street Park, which is sort of the median in Third Street between Cherry Street and Mulberry Street. Caroling will last from 6:30 to 8:30 and will stop at several downtown restaurants. So, get some dinner on Cherry Street, or just buy some hot apple cider from Killian's, and enjoy a little Christmas cheer Friday night.
If you want to celebrate Christmas by showing a little "goodwill towards men," come to a benefit concert for the Mentor's Project of Bibb County at The 567 on Friday night. Tickets are only $5, and all the money goes to help an organization that helps at-risk teens. If you bring a coat, gloves, or a blanket to donate to the homeless, you'll get a voucher for $2 off any Blue Indian show in 2011. Bands performing include Stribling and Free Ticket. It doesn't start until 8 pm, so you can come by after dinner and caroling.
While it seems like most cultural events happen in Macon, Houston County is getting its own share in Perry this weekend. On Saturday night the Ocmulgee Symphony Orchestra is performing a concert called "Holiday Brilliance" at Perry High School. For more information, go to their Facebook page. It seems a little easier to navigate and more up-to-date than their website.
As I mentioned in my introduction, this is just a selected sampling of things to do in Middle Georgia. If you want to see the full list--including more traditional holiday events like "The Nutcracker" and "A Christmas Carol"--you should go to Macon Arts where they have an extensive calendar of cultural events.
One of my favorite things to do in high school was to go ice skating. The Macon Centreplex opens up an ice skating rink every December for only about a month. It costs $10 for a 2.5-hour skating session, including the skates. The sessions start at specific times, so you'll want to go to the Macon Centreplex website to see the exact dates and times.
If you want to help make (or just observe) a new tradition in downtown Macon, an assortment of people involved in downtown Macon, including some local musicians, have gotten together to organize the 1st Annual Caroling Downtown this Friday, Dec 10. The warm-up will be at 6:00 in Third Street Park, which is sort of the median in Third Street between Cherry Street and Mulberry Street. Caroling will last from 6:30 to 8:30 and will stop at several downtown restaurants. So, get some dinner on Cherry Street, or just buy some hot apple cider from Killian's, and enjoy a little Christmas cheer Friday night.
If you want to celebrate Christmas by showing a little "goodwill towards men," come to a benefit concert for the Mentor's Project of Bibb County at The 567 on Friday night. Tickets are only $5, and all the money goes to help an organization that helps at-risk teens. If you bring a coat, gloves, or a blanket to donate to the homeless, you'll get a voucher for $2 off any Blue Indian show in 2011. Bands performing include Stribling and Free Ticket. It doesn't start until 8 pm, so you can come by after dinner and caroling.
While it seems like most cultural events happen in Macon, Houston County is getting its own share in Perry this weekend. On Saturday night the Ocmulgee Symphony Orchestra is performing a concert called "Holiday Brilliance" at Perry High School. For more information, go to their Facebook page. It seems a little easier to navigate and more up-to-date than their website.
As I mentioned in my introduction, this is just a selected sampling of things to do in Middle Georgia. If you want to see the full list--including more traditional holiday events like "The Nutcracker" and "A Christmas Carol"--you should go to Macon Arts where they have an extensive calendar of cultural events.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Introduction
I've heard people say, "There's nothing to do in Middle Georgia." When I first moved to Warner Robins from South Florida a year and a half ago, I was one of them. Since then, though, I've discovered that there's a LOT to do in Middle Georgia. If you're new to the area, though, it can be hard to find things. A lot of things in Middle Georgia are spread by word of mouth, which is hard when you don't know anyone. I, like a lot of people my age, don't really read the newspaper or watch the news on TV. I intend to, but I never make the time. The way I find most things is through the internet, and Google won't tell you what there is to do in Middle Georgia unless you know what to look for. So, for all the people out there who are looking for something to do in Perry, Warner Robins, or Macon, I've created this blog. It's not intended to tell you everything that's going on every week, but just to highlight a couple of things you might not know about. I'll try to include a variety of things that might appeal to different people, but I'll admit, it will probably be biased towards things I would enjoy most. If there's something in particular you're looking for, write a comment or contact me, and I'll try to post about it.
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