True Grit, Little Fockers, The King’s Speech
TRUE GRIT *** It’s been well documented the the Coen Brothers’ take on True Grit isn’t a remake of the 1969 film that won John Wayne his only Academy Award but rather a more faithful adaptation of Charles Portis’ novel. That’s all well and good, but when it comes to making that Netflix rental selection,…
A Christmas message not everyone wants to hear
A VERY WISE MAN who celebrates a birthday this week once said, “The love of money is the root of all evil.” A stunningly direct statement, short, succinct and easily digestible. Strange that in this era of bumper–sticker ideology so few people pay attention to it. Note it’s not money itself that’s the problem, but…
I’ll be jazzed for Christmas
The closest thing Savannah has to a full–tilt jazz club is in Hilton Head, S.C. That’s the Jazz Corner, which opened in 1999, with a performance by George Shearing, and has kept the Olympic flame burning all these years with night after night of the good stuff in its myriad forms. Be that as it…
All is calm; all is bright (if you know where to look)
ALL IS CALM, ALL IS BRIGHT (if you know where to look) Savannahians don’t put a premium on live music over the Christmas holidays. With most of the college students out of town, and everybody else concentrating on friends, family and a lazy not-going-out-to-see-bands kind of approach, things slow down considerably for this week. That’s…
Mark your calendar: ‘Savannah’ the movie
The photo you see here is from the 2008 indie comedy/drama Bottle Shock; that’s Dennis Farina, on the left, and Chris Pine (who would, soon after, play James Tiberius Kirk in the J.J. Abrams Star Trek movie). Bottle Shock, which also starred the great Alan Rickman, is about the early days of wine–making in California’s…
Georgia girl
If you act, sing and dance, they call you a Triple Threat. I have no idea if Haviland Stillwell can dance, but she can certainly act, and she can really sing… she has a honey–dripping Southern accent, and anyway, she’s Haviland Stillwell. Nobody else can claim that cool name. So there you go. Triple Threat.…
On issue of wealth, check the ‘L Curve’
Editor, Enjoyed your recent column “A deficit of patriotism.” I’ve voted Republican for 30 years. Especially don’t like government intervention. Believe me, I’m not the radical type. Self-employed. Made it. But recently I researched the U.S. Census stats. To my surprise the data stops at $250,000. Why? Then I found the site called the “L-Curve”…
Paid in full
Another year of spending on city services and capital improvement projects has been approved, but not without struggles. The mayor and council passed the 2011 budget by a vote at last Thursday’s meeting, marking the end of several intense weeks of back-and-forth with city staff — and the public. Budget staff had been preparing for…
A home for the arts
During last week’s City Council workshop new plans were unveiled outlining two alternative sites for the City’s proposed Cultural Arts Center. Questions about parking and cost at the planned site at the corner of Hall Street and MLK Jr. Boulevard prompted analysis into alternative sites on the western side of Orleans Square and at the…
The deeper we go
It was an event nearly 13 years in the making when representatives from the Army Corps of Engineers (ACE), the Georgia Ports Authority and other partnering agencies presented nearly 3,000 pages of draft reports documenting the various impacts of the proposed harbor deepening. The purpose of the four-hour event at the Civic Center last Wednesday…
Last minute gift ideas for the wine lover
First, the mass market 2009 Bordeaux is arriving on retail shelves. These aren’t the big, bold pricey Bordeaux of legend – but immediately accessible, enjoyable red blends that offer interesting variety. Even better news is that these juices begin at around $9.99 and go up. I recently tried Bergerac 2009 Bordeaux ($9.99, Habersham Beverage) and…
All’s right at Wright Square
My cassoulet and Ms. T.J.’s Monkfish arrived placed precisely and beautifully on large, saucer-shaped plates.The attention to detail was superb – and is a mere hint to the detail that has gone into the Sandfly location of Wright Square Cafe. The little downtown chocolatier and grab-n-go gourmet convenience foods shop has built a loyal and…
Do wars increase male-female birth ratio?
A colleague told me that after wars, the male-female ratio at birth increases. I found several articles mentioning this but none explaining it. Any truth? – Edgard Let’s take it step by step. 1. The natural sex ratio is about 1:1. Duh, you say. Come now-every schoolboy knows you could maintain the species with a…
Exhibits & openings this week
Birds in Flight – An installation by Matt Hebermehl of his signature, patterned bird forms hanging in the Jepson’s atrium. Jepson Center, 207 W. York St. , http://www.hebermehl.com/ Finding Balance – New work from photographer Liza Crowley Judson and jewelry designer Heather Lindsey Stewart. Kobo Gallery , 33 Barnard St. , http://www.kobogallery.com/ Fragmented Desires -…
