Cover Story
Obesity as a lifestyle choice
Americans have gotten way too big for their britches, and that’s just as true in Chatham County. Ask the paramedics at the Southside Fire Department. “We have far more patients who exceed 400 pounds than we used to,” says EMS Director/Assistant Chief Tim Genest. “That used to be a very rare exception.” Recently, Southside Fire/EMS…
New releases
The Bourne Ultimatum *** The third time’s the charm with The Bourne Ultimatum, the best in the series of films based on the popular novels by the late Robert Ludlum. While I appreciated the first two films’ efforts to bring the spy flick back to its gritty and less gadget-oriented roots, both felt as if…
Now playing
BECOMING JANE Perfectly pleasant yet also somewhat pointless, Becoming Jane comes across less as a motion picture and more as a victim of identity theft. Given the glut of exemplary films based on the works of Austen — from the fairly faithful (Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice) to the radically reworked (Bridget Jones’s Diary,…
Creative before creative was cool
For all its silliness, the recent uproar over James Dewberry’s efforts against the Creative Coast Initiative has resulted in some good dialogue regarding exactly what is the local “creative class” and how it relates to Savannah at large. The discussion certainly prompted me to better organize my very mixed feelings on the whole idea. (I…
Robin’s world
Swainsboro, art mecca Getting out of town? If Swainsboro, Ga., isn’t on your list of summer road trips — make a new list. Swainsboro is a town of either 7,000 or 8,000 people, depending on whom you ask. Located 95 miles west and north of Savannah, it’s what people call a country town, complete with…
News flash: Crack, sex don’t mix
While on routine patrol at West Bay and Carolan streets, an officer was flagged down by a bystander who advised of a possible cutting at a Rogers Street residence. Upon arrival, the officer saw a man standing in the living room of the house, completely naked. He had several cuts on the front of his…
Exonerate or execute?
Twice last Saturday, Jennifer Thompson-Cannino described being raped at knifepoint in her North Carolina apartment in 1984. Twice, in talks at two Savannah churches, she recalled that night 23 years ago—willing herself during the attack to look at her rapist and memorize details of his face. Twice she described choosing Ronald Cotton Jr. in suspect…
Can’t make this stuff up
Can’t Possibly Be True Sweden’s English-language news outlet reported in June that the government’s employment service had granted Roger Tullgren, 42, supplemental income benefits based on his illness of addiction to heavy-metal music. Tullgren (with long, black hair, tattoos and skull-and-crossbones jewelry and who said he attended nearly 300 concerts last year) said he had…
Exhibits, openings and receptions
‘Luminous Nature’ — AASU presents this exhibition of the paintings and drawings of Kate Stamps. Aug. 6-30 in the AASU Fine Arts Gallery. Join the artist for a gallery reception at noon on Wednesday, Aug. 29. ‘Crazy Quilts for Modern Times’ — A vibrant display of handmade quilts created by members of the Georgia Quilt…
‘Bringin’ ’em good food’
Peace, Love & BBQ or Fried Shrimp. It’s the motto on Gerald’s Diner tie-dye T-shirts, the shirt Gerald Schantz is wearing when I enter his business for lunch. I of course am wearing a T-shirt I tie-dyed myself. With so many places in Savannah to eat it’s nice to know you’ve made the right choice…
Mystery loves company
When Bob Dylan and collaborator/playwright Jacques Levy wrote of “a high place of darkness and light (where) the dividing line ran through the center of town,” in the 1975 tune “Isis,” they were describing a mythical destination on one man’s spiritual journey. However, they could just as easily have been describing the complex and seemingly…
A look at this week’s live gigs
Leslie Adele & The Nickel Bag of Funk Experience Previously known as just Nickel Bag of Funk, this locally-based R & B/neo-soul party band is led by the titular Adele, and known for throwing down a hard groove on well-known covers plus their own originals. Fri., 7 pm, North Beach Grill (Tybee). Agents of The…
Our picks for the most noteworthy gigs this week
Cosmic Charlie Initially formed in 1999 as a one-off project to laud fallen Grateful Dead guitarist and figurehead Jerry Garcia, this Athens-based tribute act has steadily risen among the ranks of many similarly-themed groups. Today, they are widely becoming known as one of the most faithful practitioners of this most sincere form of musical flattery.…
