American: The Bill Hicks Story
The Psychotronic Film Society screens American: The Bill Hicks Story Wednesday at the Sentient Bean. As a documentary film, American: The Bill Hicks Story is thorough, entertaining and extremely well-made. Filmmakers Matt Harlock and Paul Thomas have crafted a loving and engrossing biography of the Georgia-born standup comedian, who died in 1994 but has developed…
Reviews: Super 8, Midnight in Paris
SUPER 8 *** Writer-director J.J. Abrams’ adventure yarn Super 8 is set in 1979, a year that’s nestled between the release dates of Steven Spielberg’s first two blockbusters, 1975’s Jaws and 1977’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and his subsequent two blockbusters, 1981’s Raiders of the Lost Ark and 1982’s E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial. (Spielberg’s…
Why isn’t alternative energy the answer?
Concerning your April column on whether nuclear power is safe: Nuclear power sucks. Coal power sucks more. Boggles my mind that we don’t just ditch them both and use options we know are better. – Randvek Ah, a believer in alternative energy. You think if we build enough windmills, install enough solar panels, and distill…
Exhibits & openings this week
Additionally and Furthermore – A collection of paintings by Erin De Rosa influenced by Egon Schiele and Andrew Wyeth, among others. Gallery Espresso, 234 Bull St. Reception: June 24, 7-9pm Cain-Powers-Sandoz – Betsy Cain, Blanche Powers, and Katherine Sandoz are featured artists at the inaugural exhibit for the gallery, which explores three different responses to…
Mark Your Calendar: If Athens can do it, why can't Savannah?
Here’s a challenge for those creative types and forward–thinkers (they know who they are!) who brought us the amazing Savannah Stopover in March: Let’s have a festival featuring all Savannah musicians! The current climate in town is one of joyful renaissance; there are probably more original–music bands, artists and collaborators here now than at any…
Into the Deep
If you teach a student how to appreciate writing by making it personal rather than compulsory, then they might learn to enjoy it. Enjoying writing could lead kids into a habit of reading. Once they don’t immediately shy away from either side of that Pythagorean literary equation, things like test scores and academic achievement start…
American Rebel
Move over, Ken Burns: Georgia Public Broadcasting has made a documentary on Margaret Mitchell, author of Gone With The Wind, which celebrates the 75th anniversary of its publication later this month. Titled Margaret Mitchell:American Rebel, the documentary combines classic doc techniques with live–action reenactments and was filmed on location in Atlanta, Mitchell’s home. The film…
Isaac’s on Drayton
I’ve dined at cozy Isaac’s on Drayton half a dozen times since it opened and have always enjoyed the inviting bar and great personalities that frequent its stools. The menu has always been interesting, but something’s always been amiss: poor service, missing ingredients, bad temperatures. But like people, restaurants mature, the right people get “on…
Drink for charity!
Eight like–minded young business leaders, sales professionals and wine industry folks got together in 2007 with one idea: One Hope Wines. There are plenty of “cause brands” on the shelves that support a variety of charities. But the One Hope team had another idea –– to help lots of charities. Since its founding –– and…
Cultural notes
We’re heading into a slow time of year, but there are a few important cultural happenings that we should talk about. As part of its outreach and education component, the Savannah Music Festival has established a free service for young jazz musicians. Called Swing Central and named and inspired in part by the popular Music…
Sit down, make yourself sustainable
When you pull up to the row of shops in Whitemarsh Plaza where Thrive, A Carryout Cafe sits, there’s one place you won’t be parking your car. That’s the repurposed parking spot that’s been converted into an eco–friendly and quite charming little outdoor dining area. The unusual project represents the combined work and vision of…
All in the family
Ten years into their marriage, Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks are finally doing what they’ve always talked about – making music together, full time, with a hand-picked band. “All of our favorite people and friends that are super-talented,” is how Tedeschi describes the ensemble. “We wanted to make it the best that we could.” Performing…
Liquid Ginger, Megan Jean & the KFB, Dirty Bourbon River Show
LIQUID GINGER At 9 p.m. Thursday, June 9 Rock House, 1518 Butler Ave., Tybee Island Also: At 9 p.m. Saturday, June 11 Rachael’s 1190, 1190 King George Blvd. It’s been 11 years since Liquid Ginger first arrived on a Savannah stage; it didn’t take long at all for the hard-hitting band – fronted by honey-haired…
Gifts from the East
The best Chinese restaurant buffet’s got nothing, aroma-wise, on the MLK Arena during the Savannah Asian Festival. During the event, the big room is redolent with the spicy smells of China, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines and other Eastern epuicurian centers of delight. It all happens this Saturday – for the 16th consecutive year -…
The state of disbelief
A man called police from the parking lot of a fast food restaurant to report an incident. He said he was at the drive–thru when he asked for some napkins. There were no napkins in his bag. The man said the manager became irate and told him to get out of the drive–thru. As he…
Motorist’s guide to safe cycling
Ride a bicycle around Savannah for long enough and you’ll probably hear it yelled from the window of a passing car: “Stay on the sidewalk!” or “Get out of the road!” An experienced cyclist recently identified a new variation, provided by a motorist stopped at a traffic signal. Mistaking the Savannah resident for a tourist,…
The show must go on … quickly
Live theater is a pressure cooker, and the people who do it again and again absolutely thrive on it. If something goes wrong, or is somehow unintentional, you roll with it. You adapt. You slough it off, incorporate it into the show and you keep going. Live theater is an adrenaline rush like no other.…
