If you're a cyclist, or want to become one, there are plenty of opportunities in Middle Georgia. Warner Robins has an active group of cyclists that ride together regularly, including group rides for beginners. You can find out all the details at The Bike Store. If you live in or near Macon, there's a smaller group that rides in Macon, and you can find out their latest schedule at Bike Tech Macon.
Most First Fridays you can dust off your dancing shoes at the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame thanks to the Greater Macon chapter of USA Dance. The First Friday Dance costs only $5 for admission, and includes a dance lesson from 7:30-8:00. Then, from 8:00-10:00, you can dance the night away to a variety of musical genres. This Friday is not most First Fridays. Thanks to Facebook, I've just learned that this Friday the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame will be having a fundraising dance. Doors open at 6, music starts at 7:30. Tickets are $25 each. You can bring your own food & beverage. E-mail bigdance@gshf.org for more info. If you're looking for dancing lessons, free lessons will be happening at 10 pm on Friday at La Galerie, an art gallery at 391 Second Street.
On Saturday night you can enjoy three great female singer/songwriters for only $5 at Ladyfest 2011. Don't worry, guys are invited, too. Locals Chelsea Hughes and Anna Mae Kersey will be performing along with Emily Kempf of Atlanta-based group The Back Pockets. Chelsea Hughes is one artist I've only listened to online, but I'm looking forward to finally getting a chance to see her live on Saturday. If you want to sample their music, you can find all three of them on MySpace. Each of them has a very different sound. All this fun will be happening at The SoChi Gallery from 8 to 11:30 pm. Make sure you get there in time to see all three.
Do you remember when I told you about the Chuck Leavell concert a couple of weeks ago? It was, of course, sold out by time I told you about it. I told you to keep an eye on Cox Capitol Theatre's website to see when concerts are announced. Well, this time I'm giving you a head's up. If you're a country music fan, tickets just went on sale a few days ago for a rare solo acoustic performance by Travis Tritt on February 25. It's a small theater, so there are no bad seats, but tickets will sell fast. General admission is $30, the good seats are $75. It could make a great Valentine's Day gift for your sweetheart.
Have a fun-filled week!
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Monday, January 24, 2011
Yoga, Wine, Horses, and More Music
If you're interested in yoga, there's an actual, honest-to-goodness yoga studio in downtown Macon. Whether you're a beginner or have considerable experience doing yoga, the instructors at Yoga Moga welcome you. They offer classes 7 days a week, including a 45-min "Yoga Quickie" class during the lunch hour. They even have classes for kids! Classes range from "Gentle Yoga" that focuses on relaxation to "Vinyasa Flow" that keeps you moving around more. You can try out a quickie class for $10, or buy a group of passes for a discount if you're dedicated.
Speaking of relaxation, at Wine Styles in Macon they have wine tastings every Tuesday from 6 to 8 pm. For $6 you can enjoy appetizers and sample several different wines. If you go on Thursday nights, you can try their new selections, but it costs $10. Wine Styles really focuses on providing a good selection of high-quality, affordable wines, so you're sure to discover a new favorite.
On Tuesday and Wednesday this week, the world-famous Lipizzaner Stallions are coming to the Georgia National Fairgrounds in Perry. This special breed of horses of European descent has been touring the world for 41 years. The horses and their trainers perform choreographed routines set to music, as well as stunts. I saw them as a child in Florida, and I still remember watching the riders jump from one horse to the other while the horses maintained a synchronized trot.
The Hummingbird Stage & Taproom is bringing local bands to the stage on Saturday from 12 noon to 2 am for the Big Bird Bash. The $10 cover lets you enjoy as many of the bands as you like and goes to a good cause. Bands will include Back City Woods, Chelsea Hughes, Xavii, Trendlenberg, Stoopgrass, The Royal Fireworks, The Josh Daniel Band, The Vineyard, Good Country People, Gringo Grande, and Lance Daniel. If you haven't heard of ANY of these guys, you've got to get out and experience some of Macon's great local music scene.
Speaking of relaxation, at Wine Styles in Macon they have wine tastings every Tuesday from 6 to 8 pm. For $6 you can enjoy appetizers and sample several different wines. If you go on Thursday nights, you can try their new selections, but it costs $10. Wine Styles really focuses on providing a good selection of high-quality, affordable wines, so you're sure to discover a new favorite.
On Tuesday and Wednesday this week, the world-famous Lipizzaner Stallions are coming to the Georgia National Fairgrounds in Perry. This special breed of horses of European descent has been touring the world for 41 years. The horses and their trainers perform choreographed routines set to music, as well as stunts. I saw them as a child in Florida, and I still remember watching the riders jump from one horse to the other while the horses maintained a synchronized trot.
The Hummingbird Stage & Taproom is bringing local bands to the stage on Saturday from 12 noon to 2 am for the Big Bird Bash. The $10 cover lets you enjoy as many of the bands as you like and goes to a good cause. Bands will include Back City Woods, Chelsea Hughes, Xavii, Trendlenberg, Stoopgrass, The Royal Fireworks, The Josh Daniel Band, The Vineyard, Good Country People, Gringo Grande, and Lance Daniel. If you haven't heard of ANY of these guys, you've got to get out and experience some of Macon's great local music scene.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Fun for all Ages!
I promised in my introduction to try to give you variety, so here's my sampling of events in the area in the hopes that you'll have something to suit your tastes this week.
You can start your weekend early on Thursday night at The 567 in downtown Macon. Lost in the Trees will be performing live with Butterflies. If you haven't heard of them, Lost in the Trees is an orchestral folk-pop band who just released their first album this year and already caught the attention of NPR's music blog. One NPR blogger even picked their album in the top 9 of 2010. Doors open at 8, tickets are $7.
If you're looking for a party, the good people at The SoChi Companies know how to throw a party. Friday night at 9 pm head to the SoChi Gallery in downtown Macon (534 2nd St) for The Electric Social.
Saturday morning you can learn a new skill at Mossy Creek Soap Studio in Warner Robins. They offer different soap-making classes every Saturday. This week's class will be an introduction to glycerin soap-making and design. It lasts from 10 am to noon, and the cost is $28. Contact the studio about reserving a spot because space is limited.
Macon has several creative people that it's proud to claim as Maconites, and one of those is Chuck Leavell. If you're not from Macon, you might not have heard of him, but I am certain you've heard of at least some of the bands he has performed with: Eric Clapton, Rolling Stones, Allman Brothers, Indigo Girls, Blues Traveler, and many others. He's performing Saturday night at the Cox Capitol Theater. Of course, the show is already sold out, but I had to tell you about it as part of my mission to prove that there are interesting things to do in Middle Georgia. Keep an eye on the Cox Capitol Theater's web page so you can plan ahead to catch some of their more popular events.
If you have kids, the Museum of Arts and Sciences in Macon is having one of the best kids' activities I've heard of in a while. On Sunday from 2 to 4:30 pm they are having what they call an "Instrument Petting Zoo". Kids can come meet members of the Macon Symphony Orchestra and try out their instruments. There will be two performances by the Youth Orchestra as well as several other activities going on to entertain those short attention-spans. Best of all, it's free!
You can start your weekend early on Thursday night at The 567 in downtown Macon. Lost in the Trees will be performing live with Butterflies. If you haven't heard of them, Lost in the Trees is an orchestral folk-pop band who just released their first album this year and already caught the attention of NPR's music blog. One NPR blogger even picked their album in the top 9 of 2010. Doors open at 8, tickets are $7.
If you're looking for a party, the good people at The SoChi Companies know how to throw a party. Friday night at 9 pm head to the SoChi Gallery in downtown Macon (534 2nd St) for The Electric Social.
Saturday morning you can learn a new skill at Mossy Creek Soap Studio in Warner Robins. They offer different soap-making classes every Saturday. This week's class will be an introduction to glycerin soap-making and design. It lasts from 10 am to noon, and the cost is $28. Contact the studio about reserving a spot because space is limited.
Macon has several creative people that it's proud to claim as Maconites, and one of those is Chuck Leavell. If you're not from Macon, you might not have heard of him, but I am certain you've heard of at least some of the bands he has performed with: Eric Clapton, Rolling Stones, Allman Brothers, Indigo Girls, Blues Traveler, and many others. He's performing Saturday night at the Cox Capitol Theater. Of course, the show is already sold out, but I had to tell you about it as part of my mission to prove that there are interesting things to do in Middle Georgia. Keep an eye on the Cox Capitol Theater's web page so you can plan ahead to catch some of their more popular events.
If you have kids, the Museum of Arts and Sciences in Macon is having one of the best kids' activities I've heard of in a while. On Sunday from 2 to 4:30 pm they are having what they call an "Instrument Petting Zoo". Kids can come meet members of the Macon Symphony Orchestra and try out their instruments. There will be two performances by the Youth Orchestra as well as several other activities going on to entertain those short attention-spans. Best of all, it's free!
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Trivia, Reggae, and Running
I hope ya'll are staying warm in spite of the cold snap. Things tend to quiet down in Middle Georgia when the weather gets cold because no one wants to leave the house more than they have to. To keep you from going stir-crazy, here are some reasons to get out of the house this week.
If you're a trivia fan, Mellow Mushroom is the place for you. The trivia fun starts at 9 pm on Tuesdays in Macon and at 7:30 pm on Thursdays in Warner Robins. You can get fresh pizza or warm soft pretzels in tasty flavors. If you're a beer drinker, they have a good selection as well.
Friday night in downtown Macon you can enjoy the smooth sounds of reggae at The Red Room. If you're not familiar with NewTown Macon, they are a non-profit organization that works for the revitalization of downtown Macon. They wanted to offer free concerts on Fridays from time to time. It's too cold right now to have the concerts outside, so they set up The Red Room at 580 Cherry Street. The reggae band, Dub Shak, will play from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. If you come at 6:30, you can join (or just listen to) a drum circle with world-renowned, West African drummer Eric Gore. Between the African drumming and reggae, you're bound to get your mind off the cold.
If you made a New Year's resolution to lose weight or get in shape as many do, you can get a jump start, or just some inspiration, on Saturday morning in Warner Robins. At 8:00 is the 15th Annual Museum of Aviation Foundation Marathon, Half Marathon, and 5K. All that running (or walking) is sure to warm you up. If you aspire to run a marathon one day but haven't trained in time for Saturday, you might considering joining one of the local running clubs. Both the Robins Pacers Running Club and Macon Tracks Running Club have group runs and welcome all experience levels.
If you're a trivia fan, Mellow Mushroom is the place for you. The trivia fun starts at 9 pm on Tuesdays in Macon and at 7:30 pm on Thursdays in Warner Robins. You can get fresh pizza or warm soft pretzels in tasty flavors. If you're a beer drinker, they have a good selection as well.
Friday night in downtown Macon you can enjoy the smooth sounds of reggae at The Red Room. If you're not familiar with NewTown Macon, they are a non-profit organization that works for the revitalization of downtown Macon. They wanted to offer free concerts on Fridays from time to time. It's too cold right now to have the concerts outside, so they set up The Red Room at 580 Cherry Street. The reggae band, Dub Shak, will play from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. If you come at 6:30, you can join (or just listen to) a drum circle with world-renowned, West African drummer Eric Gore. Between the African drumming and reggae, you're bound to get your mind off the cold.
If you made a New Year's resolution to lose weight or get in shape as many do, you can get a jump start, or just some inspiration, on Saturday morning in Warner Robins. At 8:00 is the 15th Annual Museum of Aviation Foundation Marathon, Half Marathon, and 5K. All that running (or walking) is sure to warm you up. If you aspire to run a marathon one day but haven't trained in time for Saturday, you might considering joining one of the local running clubs. Both the Robins Pacers Running Club and Macon Tracks Running Club have group runs and welcome all experience levels.
Monday, January 3, 2011
First Friday, Fungi, and Farewell
If you only go to downtown Macon one day a month, the first Friday of the month is the time to be there. First Friday always has a lot going on, but one event you may not have considered is downtown Macon's art gallery openings. If you've never been to an art opening, you may picture old, rich people standing around using fancy terms you don't understand. The 567 Gallery's art opening this Friday will be nothing like that. Fifteen artists will be showcasing their work, most of them are in their twenties, and a lot of students usually come to check out the artwork. So come drop by between 6:00 and 9:00 pm, grab a complimentary cup of cocoa, and hang out with the artists- they love to talk about their work, even if you know nothing about art. Did I mention it's free?
After the art opening, head over to the Douglass Theatre to see Rory Block, award-winning blues artist, in concert. Doors open at 7:00, the concert starts at 8:00, and tickets are $15.
Unless you live in Fort Valley, there are generally not many reasons to go there. It's a typical Southern small town with not a whole lot going on. Something interesting caught my eye there this week, though. There's an organic farm called COPE Farms that's dedicated to promoting sustainability. They are offering a class on Saturday from 12:00-3:00 on how to grow your own edible mushrooms. The fee is $20 for adults, $5 for kids, and includes a farm tour and light snacks. E-mail copefarms@gmail.com to RSVP or request more information.
Head back to the Douglass Theatre on Sunday for a screening of the movie Farewell, an intriguing French spy movie. The Macon Film Guild offers showings of award-winning independent or foreign films every Second Sunday at the Douglass. The showtimes are 2:00, 4:30, and 9:30, and admission is just $5.
After the art opening, head over to the Douglass Theatre to see Rory Block, award-winning blues artist, in concert. Doors open at 7:00, the concert starts at 8:00, and tickets are $15.
Unless you live in Fort Valley, there are generally not many reasons to go there. It's a typical Southern small town with not a whole lot going on. Something interesting caught my eye there this week, though. There's an organic farm called COPE Farms that's dedicated to promoting sustainability. They are offering a class on Saturday from 12:00-3:00 on how to grow your own edible mushrooms. The fee is $20 for adults, $5 for kids, and includes a farm tour and light snacks. E-mail copefarms@gmail.com to RSVP or request more information.
Head back to the Douglass Theatre on Sunday for a screening of the movie Farewell, an intriguing French spy movie. The Macon Film Guild offers showings of award-winning independent or foreign films every Second Sunday at the Douglass. The showtimes are 2:00, 4:30, and 9:30, and admission is just $5.
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