March Concerts at Eddie's Attic in Decatur

Address: 515-B North McDonough St., Decatur, GA 30030
Tickets and Show times: www.eddiesattic.com

1 - Sarah Peacock live album recording (folk rock)
2 - Freight Room Reunion: An Open Bluegrass Jam with The Dappled Grays (bluegrass)
3 - Richard Shindell (folk)
4 - Peter Bradley Adams & Emily Greene (folk)
5 - Brian Webb & Mike Willis (folk)
6 - Pierre Bensusan (classical guitarist)
8 - Bruce Molsky (old-time Appalachian)
9 - Dayna Kurtz & Callaghan (folk)
10 - Shannon Whitworth & Sean Ashby (jazz chanteuse)
11 - CC Booker III featuring Will Scruggs & The Funderhorns (blues)
12 - Michelle Malone (southern rock)
13 - Cliff Eberhardt & James Lee Stanley (folk)
16 - Paddy Keenan (Irish)
17 - Buddy O'Reilly Band (Celtic)
18 - EARLY SHOW: James McMurtry (Americana)
18 - LATE SHOW: James McMurtry (Americana)
19 - Munnelly (aka: David Munnelly Band) & MacDara
20 - EARLY SHOW: Cowboy Envy (western)
20 - LATE SHOW: Eliot Bronson of the Brilliant Inventions CD Release (folk)
23 - Eric Dodd (roots)
24 - David Wilcox (pop)
25 - David Wilcox (pop)
26 - Susan Werner (folk)
30 - John McCutcheon & Chuck Brodsky (roots & folk)
31 - Eric Brace & Peter Cooper (Americana)

Fernbank Museum Sets Official Opening Date for All-New Children’s Exhibition, Fernbank NatureQuest

Fernbank Museum of Natural History has officially announced the grand opening date for its expansive new children’s exhibition, marking March 19, 2011, for the unveiling of Fernbank NatureQuest. The nearly 7,000-square-foot exhibition is one of the most significant and exciting additions to the Museum since the world’s largest dinosaurs moved into Fernbank’s Great Hall in 2001.

This all-new $8 million exhibition will offer Fernbank’s youngest visitors a different kind of museum experience, where children will be engaged through over 100 interactive encounters on a journey to explore an immersive, nature-inspired environment filled with live animals, hands-on learning, the inspiration to discover, and the thrill of following curiosity’s path.

“When we set out to design a new children’s exhibition over four years ago, our goal was to create an experience where visitors would be challenged, engaged and able to explore in ways that cultivate curiosity—just like real scientists,” said Fernbank’s President and CEO, Susan Neugent. “This was our opportunity to create a museum experience like no other, where children are part of the exhibition, not just observers. The sophisticated experiences in NatureQuest will inspire further investigation year after year.”

Fernbank NatureQuest provides an open-ended experience for visitors, where an unexplored world exists all around them. Inside the clubhouse, visitors can find exploration cards that offer tips on how to explore, where to look, and what to search for next, including suggestions for parents on how to investigate each habitat, special scavenger hunts for deeper explorations, and “ologist cards” that provide a directed investigation of the exhibition through the eyes of different scientists, such as an archaeologist, geologist, a zoologist, a marine biologist, and others.

For more information, visit Fernbank Museum of Natural History.

Love Song by John Kolvenbach Opens at OnStage Atlanta February 25, 2011

Love Song by John Kolevenbach - February 25 through March 12 

Beane is an exile from everything. His sister Joan and brother-in-law Harry try to make time for him, but no one can get through. Then he falls in love with a burglar in his apartment named Molly, and everything changes. How can he be so blissfully happy? John Kolvenbach's offbeat romantic comedy touches on love in all its forms.

OnStage Atlanta is located at 2597 N. Decatur Rd. Atlanta, Georgia 30033. For more information, visit OnStage Atlanta. 

Guided Tour of the Callanwolde Estate – The Phoenix Files On March 13, 2011

Callanwolde Fine Arts Center invites you on a tour of the magnificent Gothic-Tudor-style mansion built in 1920 by Charles Howard Candler, eldest son of Coca-Cola founder Asa G. Candler. An architectural landmark in the Druid Hills neighborhood of Atlanta, Callanwolde is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and reflects the  charm and dignity of an historic era.

Callanwolde joins the Atlanta Preservation Center for this annual celebration of historic places, The Phoenix Files – A Citywide Celebration of Living Landmarks on March 13, 2011.

Callanwolde Fine Arts Center is located at 980 Briarcliff Road NE. For more information, visit Callanwolde Fine Arts Center. 

Fernbank NatureQuest Opens March 19, 2011

Get ready to explore the nooks and crannies of a multi-level clubhouse. Shimmy up spiraling netting to discover the insides of a mighty red oak tree. Walk through a virtual waterfall and investigate the rock work and live animals behind it. This new, exiting exhibition at Fernbank Museum of Natural History will be a hit for families everywhere.

A few updates and highlights of Fernbank NatureQuest:

* There are trees “growing” in the exhibition! Fernbank NatureQuest will be filled with nature-inspired trees, plants and more. Children love to climb big, sturdy trees, so they’ll be excited to see there are opportunities to explore a cypress tree and a red oak from the ground up!

* The virtual river that flows through the exhibition has been installed. Two areas of the river include special “motion recognition software” that allows visitors to “dip” a toe in the water and see how the fish respond. Will they scatter? Will they swim up to greet you?

* Work is nearly complete on the kids’ clubhouse. This unique “fort” will offer multiple levels of exploration and opportunities for programming such as storytelling.

* A theme throughout Fernbank NatureQuest is to discover what lives in each of the habitats. Live animals will live within many of the habitats featured in the exhibition, but visitors will have to discover them by investigating each region. A few of their live nature ambassadors have already moved in at Fernbank while their new homes are being built!

For more information and to see photos of the work-in-progress, visit Fernbank Museum of Natural History. 

Callanwolde Fine Arts Center Presents Eggstravaganza Egg Hunt on April 23, 2011

Eggstravaganza has been a family favorite for years. Callanwolde celebrates the coming of spring with its annual Easter egg hunt to be held Saturday, April 23, 2011, from 10:00 am until 12:00 noon.

Eggstravaganza features thousands of candy-filled eggs to find (including three golden “prize” eggs), Atlanta Braves games &  prizes, and a chance to meet the Easter Bunny. There will be baked goods for sale, arts and crafts for kids, as well as a live performance to entertain kids and grown-ups alike. Bring your Easter basket and your camera for a fun, family day amidst Callanwolde’s beautiful spring gardens and grounds.

Parking: No parking onsite. Free parking and shuttle bus service begins at 9:30 at Emory University Briarcliff Campus, 1256 Briarcliff Road, one-half mile north of Callanwolde.

For more information, visit Callanwolde Fine Arts Center.  Callanwolde Fine Arts Center, Gardens and Grounds, 980 Briarcliff Road, NE, Atlanta, GA 30306

Conyer's Cherry Blossom Festival Coming March 26 & 27, 2011

The City of Conyers presents the 30th Annual Conyers Cherry Blossom Festival on March 26 and 27, 2011 at the Georgia International Horse Park. The Conyers Cherry Blossom Festival has been named a prestigious "Top 20" event by the Southeast Tourism Society for March 2011.

The Cherry Blossom Festival originated as a way to encourage cultural understanding and friendship through international music, dance, games, food and crafts. The festival offers multiple stages for continuous entertainment, over 300 booths consisting of arts and crafts vendors, various children's activities and civic and nonprofit organizations. The hours of the festival are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. There is a $5.00 charge for parking for one day parking or an $8.00 parking pass is an option to attend both days of the festival. There is no admission fee. No pets allowed!

Directions to the Festival
From Atlanta, take I-20 East to Conyers Exit 82 (GA Hwy 138). Turn left and travel 3.8 miles. Turn right on Centennial Olympic Parkway and follow to the festival.

For more information, visit Conyers Cherry Blossom Festival. 

Walt Disney Pictures’ 'The Odd Life of Timothy Green' Starring Jennifer Garner Is Being Filmed In DeKalb County

Walt Disney Pictures' The Odd Life of Timothy Green starring Jennifer Garner is being filmed right here in Atlanta's DeKalb County. According to The Champion Newspaper:

There was a lot of activity last week outside of Avondale Estates when a school, shut down since 2008, reopened under a new name.

Forest Hills Elementary School came back to life last Monday as Millard Fillmore Elementary School as parents walked the children to the front door held open by a school official.

But it wasn’t real: the school was part of the set for a movie being filmed in DeKalb County. The movie, Walt Disney Pictures’ The Odd Life of Timothy Green, stars Jennifer Garner, who played Sidney Bristow in ABC’s Alias, which ran from 2001-06. Also in the movie are Joel Edgerton who played in Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones and Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, and CJ Adams of Dan in Real Life.

The movie is being directed by Academy Award®–nominated writer/director Peter Hedges (Dan in Real Life, About a Boy, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape). Hedges also penned the script, based on a story from producer Ahmet Zappa.

To continue reading, please visit this page on ChampionNewspaper.com.

Photos from the set of The Odd Life Of Timothy Green:

[Jennifer Garner Photo via Karon.Liu, on Flickr]

Atlanta Jewish Film Festival Showcases International Cinema February 8-27, 2011

The Atlanta Jewish Film Festival (AJFF) is a 20-day cinematic exploration of Jewish life, culture and history. Seeking to use the power of film to both entertain and educate, AJFF challenges conventional perspectives on complex and challenging issues facing both the Jewish and global communities.

Founded in 2000, AJFF ranks as the largest film festival in Atlanta, and second largest Jewish film festival in the United States. AJFF attracts an audience of more than 20,000 moviegoers, and features an international collection of some 60 narrative and documentary films that explore the Jewish experience. Screenings are supplemented by guest appearances with filmmakers, actors, authors, academics and other expert speakers.

The 2011 AJFF takes place at a host of venues across the metro Atlanta area. For a complete listing of films and venues, visit Atlanta Jewish Film Festival. 

DeKalb Symphony Orchestra Concert With Special Guest Sergio Gallo, Pianist, on March 1, 2011

The DeKalb Symphony Orchestra will perform Schumann's Piano Concerto with special guest Sergio Gallo, Pianist, on March 1, 2011.

Also featured in the program are selections from Beethoven, Dvorak and Sibelius. The concert will be held in the Marvin Cole Auditorium at the Georgia Perimeter College Clarkston Campus.


For tickets or additional information, call 678-891-3565 or visit DeKalb Symphony Orchestra.

Take a Snow Day at Stone Mountain Park Through March 6, 2011

Bundle your family up and get ready for snow tubing, snowballs, snowmen and snow angels at Stone Mountain Park. Snow Mountain’s state-of-the-art snow-making magic guarantees tons of fresh snow daily. Based at Stone Mountain Park’s famous Laser Lawn, Snow Mountain keeps your entire family busy for hours.

A 400’ foot tubing hill and a snow play area filled with a blizzard of snow activities make Snow Mountain Atlanta’s not-to-be-missed winter attraction. Snow Mountain’s signature tubing hill is a snow adventure for your entire family. Whether you choose Tube Runners, ten lanes for single riders or Avalanche Alley, three lanes for multiple riders, there’s a thrill for everyone in your family.

 For more information and tickets, visit Snow Mountain.

ART Station presents “Lunchtime Series at ART Station”

On March 21, 2011 gospel Singer Mildred Brown will appear on the ART Station stage accompanied by Kenny Brandon and features back-up singers Regina Hill and Ezola Summers. A discussion with the performers will follow the performance.

ART Station in Stone Mountain Village presents “Lunchtime Series at ART Station” from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. This series strives to create a fresh and stimulating monthly lunchtime option for area residents and business professionals. Each “Lunchtime Series” presentation showcases an exciting performance, lecture or art experience and offers a boxed lunch for a ticket price of $10.

For additional information regarding “Lunchtime Series at ART Station” call 770 469 1105 or visit www.artstation.org.

ART Station is located at 5384 Manor Drive in historic Stone Mountain Village

PushPush Theater Presents Confessional by Tennessee Williams Opening February 11, 2011

As part of the "Year of Tennessee Williams," celebrating the 100th Anniversary of his birth, PushPush Theater will present a workshop production of Confessional, one of the best of Tennessee Williams' lesser known plays. Often left out of the canon, this play contains a unique style of writing that is even more engaging now then when he wrote it.

Set in a local bar, the play is divided into a series of events that drive the female patrons, Leona and Violet, to extremes. Beginning with a simple, unintended insult, a series of greater injuries afflict each patron on the anniversary of Leona's brother's death.

Confessional is an interactive cafe play, so the bar will be open throughout the performance and afterward for drinks and discussion.

Opens Friday, Feb 11 at 10pm
Runs Wednesdays at 8pm, Thursdays at 9pm, and Fridays at 10pm through Feb 25

Artists include Jennifer Bates, Claire Christie, Tim Habeger, Stuart McDaniel, Wade Tilton, and Patrick Wood. Confessional cafe will open in the PushPush Lounge Space. Previews Thursday, Feb 10 at 9pm,

Please reserve your tickets online at PushPush Theater or call them at 404.377.6332

Innovative Violinist Nicola Benedetti Will Perform at Emory's Schwartz Center on February 25, 2011

The innovative and award-winning violinist Nicola Benedetti performs Fri., Feb. 25, 8 p.m., at Emory’s Schwartz Center for Performing Arts. Joining Benedetti will be Pei-Yao Wang on the piano. The program features “From Ayrshire” by contemporary composer James MacMillan, as well as works by Sergey Prokofiev, Ernest Chausson and Richard Strauss.

For ticket information visit, www.arts.emory.edu.

Toulouse-Lautrec & Friends: The Stein Collection On View At The High Museum Of Art Through May 1, 2011

Toulouse-Lautrec and Friends: The Stein Collection at the High Museum of Art features approximately 80 works. 

From Cancan dancers at the Moulin Rouge and the decadent world of Montmartre to advertising posters for rowdy cabarets, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec created some of the world's most recognizable images of turn-of-the-century Paris.

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec's prints and lithographs serve as the centerpiece of the exhibition along with other works on paper by his friends and contemporaries. In addition, sculptures from the seventeenth through early twentieth centuries by such artists as Cordier and Dalou are included in the exhibition celebrating the recently promised gift to the High by collectors Irene and Howard Stein.

The High Museum of Art is located at 1280 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta, GA 30309.

Divine Intervention: African Art & Religion at the Michael C. Carlos Museum Through December 4, 2011

This new exhibition at Michael C. Carlos Museum of Emory University illustrates the traditional African belief that works of art function as a bridge between the human and divine worlds. Through its creation or through its use in ritual, a work of art becomes potent, filled with the power of the spirit and ancestral realms, and can effect change and transformation in the lives of human beings.

The exhibition features over 50 works from over twenty African cultures including familiar items such as masks and shrines, and less familiar items like the jacket of a hunter from Mali. Covered with amulets, mirrors, talons, and other objects believed to be imbued with nyama, or ritual potency, the jacket both empowers and protects the hunter. Also included are divining instruments that facilitate human communication with ancestors and other spirits. The works in Divine Intervention illustrate the active nature of African art, in which works of art are not passive representations of deities, ancestors, or spirits, but rather agents of communication between the divine and earthly realms.

Michael C. Carlos Museum of Emory University is located at 571 South Kilgo Circle
Atlanta, GA 30322.

Jazz Trumpeter Nicholas Payton Headlines Emory Jazz Fest

Nicholas Payton, trumpet, and the Gary Motley Trio, Fri., Feb. 18, 8.p.m. at the Schwartz Center for Performing Arts, Emerson Concert Hall, 1700 N. Decatur Rd., Atlanta, 30322. Tickets: $15. Acclaimed trumpeter and Grammy winner Nicholas Payton headlines the Emory Jazz Fest with the Gary Motley Trio. Additional Feb. 17-19 Jazz Fest events are at the Schwartz Center for Performing Arts, and are free and open to the public. For details: Arts at Emory box office: 404-727-5050, boxoffice@emory.edu, www.arts.emory.edu

New Photography Exhibition at Fernbank Museum Reveals the Natural Artistry of Seascapes

Fernbank Museum of Natural History presents the gallery exhibition Seascapes: Photography of Sandra Gottlieb from February 5-August 14, 2011. With a keen eye for the fleeting phenomena of clouds and light, Gottlieb captures the skies and waters of the Atlantic Ocean in this exhibition with beautiful large-scale images that range from the abstract, to the painterly, to the highly dramatic.

Seascapes is a series of 40 large-scale color photographs that concentrate on the sky and water. The images were taken primarily from a single vantage point overlooking the Atlantic Ocean in Rockaway Beach, Queens, NY. Some of the later pictures in the series were shot on the southeast coast of Florida.

Fernbank Museum of Natural History is located at 767 Clifton Road, NE in Atlanta. Other happenings at Fernbank include: The special exhibition Mythic Creatures: Dragons, Unicorns & Mermaids, on view February 19-August 14, 2011; the grand opening of the all-new children’s exhibition Fernbank NatureQuest in late March 2011; and blockbuster IMAX® films, including Animalopolis (showing through March 17, 2011), Journey into Amazing Caves (showing through March 17, 2011) and Greece: Secrets of the Past (currently showing Friday nights but will show daily beginning March 18, 2011).

For more information, visit fernbankmuseum.org.

Stage Door Players Present Bye, Bye, Birdie

January 28 Through February 20, 2011

Conrad Birdie has been drafted, devastating his teenage fans across the nation. Albert Peterson is a songwriter to the rescue. He and his secretary (and long-suffering girlfriend) Rosie scheme to have Birdie sing a song on The Ed Sullivan Show, and then kiss a randomly-chosen high school girl goodbye before going off to the Army. This classic American musical is a favorite for the ages.

For ticket information, visit Stage Door Players.  Stage Door Players is located at 5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody, Georgia.