Citizen Alert: I was just “Glamored” at the Ghetto Kroger! Oh yes, in the Pet Food aisle. A guy approached me and acted like he knew me. “I know you from Kinetics?” he said. “No, I don’t go to Kinetics,” I say. He proceeds, “Are you from Forsyth?” “Aren’t you on TV?” Pathetic ploys to engage me in a convo. It was eerily reminiscent of that cheesy pickup line, “Haven’t we met before?” He’s now working me with flattery…glamoring me like a vampire. But Blinded Me With Science he did not. I may be shallow, but I’m not stupid. I DON’T know this guy and tell him so. “I have to go and feed my dogs, nice to meet you,” I say. Then he hit me with his best shot, “I saw you in the parking lot and followed you in here. Man, I just got out of jail, can you give me a few bucks for a taxi?” He was hustling me and freaking me out all at once! I wanted to go Ninja on him, but I, like any good Christian said, “Sorry, I don’t have any cash.” Times are tough for us ALL. Like the old saying goes, Desperate times call for desperate measures….the crooks are working alternative routes. So kids, watch out when you pop in to the grocery to pick up that pint of Ben & Jerry’s Cherry Garcia you’ve been craving …you might get fleeced.

The Pied Piper of SoChi failed miserably at the whole Father’s Day game. My kids have flown the coop for the summer leaving me to fend for myself in celebrating the only day that father’s are celebrated. This is an annual occurrence. My wife says she gives me the best Father’s Day gift ever: Peace & Quiet. But, on this particular day I always feel like a bachelor. So, when it comes to Father’s Day, Is Peace and Quiet really the perfect gift?

Speaking of gifts, I received one this week that really raised some eyebrows! I’m at Chadwick Hudson Salon waiting on Jack Adams to cut my hair. I’m talking to Victoria Wright about life’s goings-on and thinking she’s really in to what I’m saying. Mid-sentence she interrupts me with, “Let me fix your eyebrows.” She’s not listening to a thing I’m saying, but dissecting my imperfections. After pulling the dagger out of my chest, I yield to her browbeating. Granted she’s the Brow Guru of Macon…I’m still uneasy about this…I have visions of NIP/TUCK’s Christian Troy dancing in my head….BTW, his “fixed” eyebrows creep me out! Victoria eases my troubled mind and rips out the imperfect hairs. Three minutes later my eyebrows were perfect..in a very NON-Christian Troy type of way. I know what you are doing right now. You are raising YOUR eyebrows!

Ok, I totally dig a good concert and that is exactly what I did Tuesday night. Goth Rocker, Peter Murphy played The Masquerade, an old mill turned into a very unique nightclub, in Atlanta. He has so got that whole British vampire game down and I frankly don’t know why he’s not singing the soundtrack for the “Twilight” films and “True Blood” TV series. Nobody sounds more haunting than Peter! I’m just saying. His INDIGO EYES are enough to glamor anyone.

Who’s Hungry?

Modern American comfort food & edgy industrial architecture collide to create an amazing new Atlanta restaurant: 4th & Swift. Located on North Avenue across the parking lot from The Masquerade. Foodies, 4th & Swift is a must! This place looks like it just stepped out of the pages of Wallpaper* Magazine. And coming from me, you can’t get any better than that.

Ok, here’s my HOT tip of the week. Try the Habanero Pimento Cheese sandwich @ Fountain of Juice. WOW! Just be sure and order a tall glass of water to go with it.

OK, now off to enjoy tonight’s dinner of Kroger’s Rotisserie Chicken Salad & Wheat Thins while listening to tunes on Blip.Fm. How’s that for a glamorous life?

FUTURE LOVE PARADISE

Find out just how Hard it is to make an indecent living: HUNG Season Premiere, HBO. Sun @ 10p following True Blood.
Dr
Y-O’S Poetic Peace Open Mic @ The 567 Every Tuesday. 7p – 10p. 567 Cherry St.

Drag Queen Bingo @ The Hummingbird every 1st & 3rd Wednesday.

Thirsty Thursday @ The Patio behind the Hummingbird. Live music. Cash Bar. Thursday @ 5pm.

Mose Davis “SUNSHINE” CD Release Party. July 26th. 6-9p. The SoChi Gallery.

PARTY @ THE PARTHENON, a Greek-themed costume party. July 31st @ The SoChi Gallery.

DOCS WHO ROCK! Macon Arts’ Taste of Music. August 15th @ The Blacksmith Shop. 7p-10p. If you are a doctor who’d like to be a celeb chef at this year’s event, contact Macon Arts @ 478-743-6940.

Weaver’s Weekend, August 29th. The Armory Ballroom. 8p-Midnight. $35 per person, open bar, meal included and music by John Dunn and the Jazzmen. All of the proceeds go to support Vine Ingle and the Mike Weaver Scholarship fund. For more info go to http://www.mikeweaver.org

DRIVE. DRINK. ZINGO. $20 plus $2 per mile. Way cheaper than a DUI & no driving around looking for your car the next day. They pick you up in your car and drive you home. 478-254-6555.

I WANT TO ROCK-N-ROLL ALLNITE!

Josh Carson CD Release Concert @ the Cox Capitol Theatre. Saturday, June 27th. 8pm. $10 advance / $12 day of show.
Tori Amos @ Chastain Park. July 27th
Depeche Mode @ Lakewood. Sept. 1st
Pet Shop Boys @ Chastain Park. Sept. 12th

Like the sands of the hour glass, so are the days of our lives. OK, I’ve walked through 3 decades in the past 2 weeks. Not in some computer geek “Back To the Future” sort of time machine, but through a Disco, a Moonwalk and a Mattress.

It began with The Studio 54 Party. Putting a themed event like that together, you really get “into it.” Well, the “it” was the 70’s. The retro lingo, clothing, period advertisements …gosh, If I could teach the world to sing in perfect harmony…I’d buy them all a Coke. Well, I just don’t have that sort of time, so I’ll just concentrate on throwing a party here and there. They can bring their own coke, I’ll supply the vodka.

Last weekend we Moonwalked down to the Cox Capitol Theatre for the 80’s Reunion Party. Man was it ever the 80’s minus the big hair and party at The Krystal. As The Smiths sang, “Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others” but overall most folks looked somewhat similar and still looking for a good time. Big shout out to Lawson Brown who put this event together from Nashville, TN with his Facebook page. If this doesn’t prove the power of social networking, I don’t know what does.

The following night, I landed right back in the here and now. Planted firmly in a cushy seat at The Macon Little Theatre I watched in shear delight as my two kids sang, danced and acted their way through the stage production of ONCE UPON A MATTRESS. I have to say, I think I like my life best right here & now in the “mattress” decade!

Let’s Get Phallical, Phallical, I want get phallical, let’s get into phallical! (wonder how many times Olivia Newton John has heard that one?) OK, a new TV series is about to hit the airways this Sunday night. It’s called HUNG. And it’s about using the ASSets God gave you to make it through these troubled economic times. With the tagline “It’s Hard To Make An Indecent Living” you gotta give it a test run. Premieres Sunday @ 10pm on HBO, immediately following TRUE BLOOD.

Who’s hungry? You gotta try the prik @ Lemongrass Thai. I’d suggest the Moo Pad Prik King … It’s more than a mouthful and is bursting with flavor! It goes down smooth with a Thai in a Glass, their signature cocktail.

Looking for a gift for the dad who has everything and a little more? Professional Fitness Trainer Ricky Cain is offering a special on Personal Training classes. Ten 30min sessions for $280 & Ten 1 hour sessions for $440. Gateway Fitness Studios. 478-257-6428

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY!

Future Love Paradise
Thirsty Thursday @ The Patio behind the Hummingbird. Live music. Cash Bar. Thursday @ 5pm.

Theatre Macon’s “A GRAND NIGHT FOR SINGING” Musical Revue. June 18, 19, 20 @ 8pm. June 21 @ 2:30pm. $15. For tickets, call 746-9485.

Art Tastes Good! FALLEN FRUIT: UNITED FRUIT @ LACE (Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions) 6522 Hollywood Blvd.; Los Angeles, CA. One of the artists, Austin Young, was recently in Macon photographing the stars of the upcoming film STUCK! This exhibition features a series of photographs and video installations exploring the social, political and pop history of the banana. Exhibition dates: June 17 – Sept 27.

Drag Queen Bingo @ The Hummingbird every 1st & 3rd Wednesday.

DOCS WHO ROCK! Macon Arts’ Taste of Music. Saturday, August 15th @ The Blacksmith Shop. 7pm. If you are a doctor who’d like to be a celeb chef at this year’s event, contact Macon Arts @ 478-743-6940.

Y-O’S POETIC PEACE OPEN MIC AT THE 567 EVERY TUESDAY 7PM TIL 10PM 567 CHERRY ST.

Check out my new column about mixing & mingling: “The SoChi Life” in the June/July issue of Macon Magazine.

The Macon Film Festival is now accepting submissions for the 2010 festival! Tell your filmmaker friends.

DRIVE. DRINK. ZINGO. $20 plus $2 per mile. Way cheaper than a DUI & no driving around looking for your car the next day. They pick you up in your car and drive you home. 478-254-6555.

I Want to Rock-N-Roll All Night!

Wet Willie @ the Cox Capitol Theatre. Saturday, June 20th. $25.
Mose Davis “SUNSHINE” CD Release Party. July 26th. 6-9p. The SoChi Gallery. $10.
Josh Carson CD Release Concert @ the Cox Capitol Theatre. Saturday, June 27th. 8pm. $10 advance / $12 day of show.
Tori Amos @ Chastain Park Amphitheatre. July 27th.
Pet Shop Boys @ Chastain Park Amphitheatre. Sept. 12th

“You walked in to the party like you were walking onto a yacht.” OK, people have you EVER been to a party @ The SoChi Gallery? Seriously, Priscilla Esser is the living embodiment of that verse sung by Carly Simon. This past Friday was The Studio 54 Party. Priscilla, dressed as “Bianca Jagger,” made her dramatic Cleopatra-style entrance atop a Tiger skin palanquin carried by 4 saronged boys: Anthony Ennis, Scot Cooley, Troy Tarpley & Pat Frost. ME-OW! WOW-WOW!

The SoChi Gallery was transformed into Studio 54 with a limo out front, the Velvet Ropes at the door, a line of folks in a que waiting to get in, nightclub lighting, a disco ball atop the amazing DKH Entertainment’s DJ setup, the authentic Studio 54 logo projected onto the wall by Macon Lights, the iconic Moon & Coke Spoon and a Warhol on the wall. Official Paparazzi included: Anna Scott and Gilbert Lee

NoChi dweller Daly Smith said, and I quote, “”If you’d told me 5 yrs ago I’d be at a party on Second Street and would have a problem finding parking spot I’d say you are crazy! Cheers to you for accomplishing the impossible!” I’ll take it.

This party was proof that Andy Warhol’s “Everyone’s Famous for 15 Minutes” quip rings true! Most of the guests were dressed in Retro-Fabulous “Disco Attire” but there were a few standouts that I must give props to. Craig Hamilton rocked it as “Iggy Pop,” Priscilla Esser, of course, as “Bianca Jagger,” Starling Thornsberry & Anna Stripling were gorgeous in their glittery frocks & very big hair, Christopher Brooks’ “Village People Indian,” Kim Sandefur’s maxi-lashed “Raquel Welch,” Mitch Kersey defined Glitter as “Studio 54” with disco ball septer in hand, “Porn-Stached Marcus Simmons and Jenn Hayslip’s “Supermodel Gia.” Jessica Garcia really POPPED in her Bubble Wrap dress. Jason Ancho was a perfect “Club Kid.” The Tampa foursome, Tommy & Alicia Rossiter and Todd & Kimberly Davis, blew into Macon ready to Disco-down…and they ALL looked the part.

As the clock struck Midnight and the moon jumped over the coke spoon, confetti was thrown down from the catwalk…making everyone just a little more sparkly!

The glitter faded and the sleep deprivation set-in on Saturday. What makes for good hangover food? The Fish Taco from Acapulco’s Mexican Restaurant! Yum, Yum. Especially if paired with their top shelf margarita. The hair of the dog, as they say.

Family Day Sunday was spent with the Atlanta Braves & Milwaukee Brewers at Turner Field. Braves won 8 to 7.

Go BING yourself! Check out the newest search engine. Besides “Bing It!” sounds funkier than “Google It!”

FUTURE LOVE PARADISE

Macon Little Theatre Kid’s Production of “ONCE UPON A MATTRESS.” Performances: Friday, June 12 – 7:30PM; Saturday, June 13 – 2:30 & 7:30 PM; Sunday, June 14 – 2;30 pm

TRUE BLOOD Second Season premieres Sunday on HBO @ 9pm.

Y-O’S Poetic Peace Open Mic@ the 567 Every Tuesday. 7p til 10p. 567 Cherry Street.

DOCS WHO ROCK! Macon Arts’ Taste of Music. Saturday, August 15th. 7-10p @ The Blacksmith Shop. If you are a doctor who’d like to be a celeb chef at this year’s event, contact Macon Arts. 478-743-6940.

Check out my new column about mixing & mingling: “The SoChi Life” in the June/July issue of Macon Magazine.

DRIVE. DRINK. ZINGO. $20 plus $2 per mile. Way cheaper than a DUI & no driving around looking for your car the next day. They pick you up in your car and drive you home. 478-254-6555.

SO CAMPY!
Camp Discovery at the Museum of Arts and Sciences. June 8-26 and again July 13-31. Children must have completed kindergarten, but cannot have completed the 6th grade. Museum members receive a discount for camps, and a $20 discount is given to families registering more than one child. 478-477-3232

Summer Kids Flicks @ AmStar Movie, Popcorn & a Drink for only $3. Every Tuesday & Wednesday @ 10am.

Looking for a cool summer camp for your kiddos? Well check this one out: Macon Clay Hand-building clay classes for ages 6 & up. 478-731-1376

Rock Star Camp! The 2nd Annual Otis Redding Singer/Songwriter Camp June 22-26, 2009. Geared for ages 12-17. The camp is $100 and includes lunch. Applications are available online at http://www.georgiamusic.org/ or at the Georgia Music Hall of Fame Museum.

Call me a hedonist, but I love a great party – and I’m not ashamed to admit it! Hell, I live to party. Lucky for me I do it for a living. And by “it” I mean plan parties and events. I also admit that I’m attracted to shiny things and nothing says shiny like a big, beautiful Disco Ball!

In the late ‘70s there was no bigger party than Studio 54, the most famous nightclub in the world. Studio 54 ruled the night and for the creatures of the night, Studio 54 was Mecca. It was there that Bianca Jagger mounted a white horse and famously rode it through the velvet ropes and into legend, becoming an icon of the disco era.

Well, folks, listen up … 1977 is back with a hedonistic vengeance. Burn, Baby, Burn. The SoChi Gallery is turning into a Disco Inferno this Friday night. And the SoChilites are about to ignite! Put on your boogie shoes and meet me at The Studio 54 Party and let’s Do the Hustle.

There is a new foodie spot in town and its name is Lemongrass. Thai baby Thai. Ok, I must admit I have a weakness for the Indonesian cuisine, but I must say I’m so happy to have a local access. A “must” is the “Thai in a Glass” Signature Cocktail. One just makes you yearn for another .. and another. Lemongrass has the feel of a big-city “IT” place and makes a nice addition to the Cherry Streetscape. Thai food is my fave…so much in fact that Thailand was my honeymoon destination. Their Shrimp Basil Roll on the Tapas menu is a must.

This past Sunday we celebrated “Family Day” at Six Flags. OK, the secret to success is to purchase the Gold Flash Pass in addition to the admission ticket. The price varies depending on how many are in your group. For a party of four it’s about $40/person. The pass will eliminate all wait times and make you a very happy camper.

TRUE BLOOD: The Complete First Season” is out on DVD. Catch up on the Fang-banging before to the second season of TRUE BLOOD premieres June 14th on HBO.

SO CAMPY!

Looking for a cool summer camp for your kiddos? Well check this one out: Macon Clay Hand-building clay classes for ages 6 & up. 478-731-1376

Rock Star Camp! The 2nd Annual Otis Redding Singer/Songwriter Camp June 22-26, 2009. Geared for ages 12-17. The camp is $100 and includes lunch. Applications are available online at http://www.georgiamusic.org/ or at the Georgia Music Hall of Fame Museum.

Camp Discovery at the Museum of Arts and Sciences. June 8-26 and again July 13-31. Children must have completed kindergarten, but cannot have completed the 6th grade. Museum members receive a discount for camps, and a $20 discount is given to families registering more than one child. 478-477-3232

Summer Kids Flicks @ AmStar Movie, Popcorn & a Drink for only $3. Every Tuesday & Wednesday @ 10am.

Future Love Paradise

Famed Fashion Photographer Richard Avedon Photography Exhibit @ The International Center of Photography, New York City. Now through Sept. 6th.

DISCO NEVER DIED. It was just Resting Up for US! STUDIO 54 PARTY @ The SoChi Gallery is a ‘To Be Real’ deal. Friday, June 5th. 9pm until.

Check out my new column about mixing & mingling: “The SoChi Life” in the June/July issue of Macon Magazine.

DRIVE. DRINK. ZINGO. $20 plus $2 per mile. Way cheaper than a DUI & no driving around looking for your car the next day. They pick you up in your car and drive you home. 478-254-6555.

I Want to Rock-N-Roll All Night!
Goth Rocker Peter Murphy @ The Masquerade in Atlanta, June 23rd