Our teachable moment
Last May at the annual Covered Dish Supper sponsored by Chatham–Savannah Citizen Advocacy, I shared dinner with some new acquaintances – “Frederick,” a friendly–yet–reserved Brooks Brothers–dressed African American professional in his late 20s; and “William,” a silent, grade–school aged African American boy. After saying hello and shaking hands with Frederick, I extended my hand to…
Where are the environmentalists?
EVEN IF THE BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill is plugged soon — an almost impossible likelihood — the damage it has already caused will be a devastating, possibly lethal, blow to a key national fishery and recreation area. Even in the best–case scenario, most of the Gulf of Mexico will essentially be a dead zone…
Quintron and Miss Pussycat
All the way from BP-beleaguered New Orleans comes one of the most charmingly retro – and intriguingly bizarre – acts to hit the Jinx stage in …. well, in weeks. Quintron is a Hammond B3 organist and electronica artist whose keyboards are disguised behind the “grill” of a vintage car, complete with working headlights (and…
After the flood
Last month’s flooding in Nashville claimed 31 lives, and caused an estimated $1.5 billion in damage. Along with the devastation that rained down on the population, many venerable country music venues were damaged, including instrument warehouses where a lot of touring musicians stored their road gear. Music stars, of course, are doing what they can…
Sometimes sorry isn’t enough
An officer on patrol at 4 a.m. was advised by a passerby that there was a group of disorderly individuals in the area. The officer went to investigate and discovered the suspect walking down the middle of Broughton Street yelling and shouting. The officer observed the man to be very unsteady on his feet, with…
As nature intended
The Athens band Venice is Sinking creates atmospheric music, rooted in pop but free from the constraints of predicable song structure – the melodies, and the arrangements, go where they will. The instrumentation includes acoustic guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, trumpet and viola, and like all the best pop music, they’re combined in various ways to…
A different drum
In Japan, traditional drumming ensembles are called kumi–daiko. These groups take the traditional Japanese drums, known as taiko, and put them side–by–side, of all shapes, sizes and resonances, for a pounding, poly–rhythmic performance. Taiko drumming ensembles blend traditional Japanese folk culture, shrine music, elements of jazz rhythm and a fierce and often quite dazzling sense…
Speaking Spanish
One of the great bargains today are wines from Spain. While prices climbed in formerly inexpensive Australian labels and quality waned in other regions’ wine offerings, Spain has continued to export high quality, interesting wines ranging in price from $8–$20. Generally, these are immediately drinkable wines that tend to reflect the easy going, fun–loving nature…
Random bites: Barberito’s
Barberitos This made–to–order Southwestern–influenced restaurant has done something very, very right. Baberitos took the made–to–order model and kicked it into high gear with insanely fresh ingredients.. Salsa, for example, is made from scratch every day. How do I know that? I spotted the tub of salsa as I peered over the sneeze guard to order…
Kids and community
Kelie Miley opened the first Savannah Children’s Theatre in the back room of a downtown church, with six kids, in 2003. They did two shows that first year. Today, nearly 300 children are at the theater every week, Miley says, “actively doing something,” whether it’s taking singing, acting or dancing lessons, rehearsing a show, hanging…
Visible talent for Invisible Children
Students from Savannah Arts Academy’s Making A Difference group (MAD) helped gather an enthusiastic and generous crowd for a talent show at the Sentient Bean May 25 to benefit the organization Invisible Children. Considering themselves storytellers, Invisible Children is an organization that calls people to action through documentary videos. Invisible Children has worked with the…
Tossed salads and scrambled eggs
Because it has so many different interpretations, on so many different levels, Ken Kesey’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest was named one of the 100 Best English–Language Novels by Time magazine in 2005. The darkly comic story of an Oregon mental hospital, its troubled patients and the controlling nurse who runs things with an…
Winds of change
With millions of gallons of oil spilled into the Gulf of Mexico over the past month and the ongoing threat of global warming tied to burning fossil fuels, the question of how we will power households and businesses through the 21st century and into the future looms larger than ever. Among the crop of renewable…
Exhibits & openings this week
Alexander Ink – SCAD’s annual juried printmaking exhibition composed of students from the Atlanta and Savannah locations. Runs through July 2. Alexander Hall Gallery, 668 Indian St. , http://www.scad.edu/exhibitions CEMCS Art Exhibition – The Coastal Empire Montessori Charter School hosts its annual fundraiser exhibition and auction. Proceeds benefit the CEMCS art program. Reception: June 4,…
America, what a country!
America, What a Country! In 2007, after a stay in the United States distinguished mainly by his acquisition of a long police record, illegal immigrant Cecil Harvey, 55, was deported to his native Barbados. However, according to records revealed by the New York Post in May, Harvey received, in late 2009, one last remembrance of…
What secret technology is DARPA hiding from us?
I recently stumbled on the online Straight Dope and, since you seem to be the guru of all things, decided to ask a question. How many years ahead of us is DARPA, technologically, and what secrets do you think they may be hiding from us? — A curious kid P.S. Do you think a rail…
2010 SCAD Concert in Forsyth Park
2010 Savannah College of Art and Design “New Alumni Concert” Friday, May 28 in Forsyth Park Savannah, Georgia featuring G. Love & Special Sauce and Glactic. Photos by Josh Branstetter
