Kudos to Stephanie Folsom who packed the house for the Grand Opening of Fab’rik on Forsyth Rd. “Real Housewife of Atlanta” Lisa Wu Hartwell & NFL’r Ed Hartwell made an appearance to promote the opening.  Lisa’s fashion line CLOSET FREAK will be available at the new boutique.  Hartwell’s Atlanta publicist asked Priscilla Esser & I to show them SoChi following the opening. We took the  ‘Real’ couple for a late night dinner @ Lemongrass Thai Bistro where the streets were buzzing about the celebs in town.  Post dinner we popped into The Hummingbird where songstress Molly Stevens serenaded them with “Dock of the Bay” & “Midnight Train to Georgia.”  The Hartwells were feelin’ Macon!

Macon Arts’ FIRED WORKS once again proved that nobody can throw a pot party like they do.  This event has become the preeminent ceramics show in the state.

“Easy like a Sunday morning” just about sums up the Ocmulgee Expeditions canoe trip down the river.  We spent “family day” floating down the Ocmulgee … and I will say, it was the first of many.  I can’t recommend this highly enough.  It not only washed off the pollen but it really helped drain some stress all while upping my “cool factor” in the eyes of  my 11-yr old twins.

The underground supper club, SoChilicious, has been launched.  Mysterious clues led diners to the L. Alexander Shelko Gallery on Vineville Avenue where guests enjoyed a multi-course dinner prepared by mystery chefs Lee Clack of Kudzu Catering & pin up princess Ashley Croft of Allie May Bakery.  Guests got a sneak peak of Macon’s newest comic MACON MAN created by famed comic illustrator Craig Hamilton & The SoChi Companies.

Macon Me Crazy!  Cesare Mammarella’s latest & greatest club, Asylum, opened this weekend.  I’ll just say, he picked the right name – the place is INSANE.  Very reminiscent the NYC club scene of the 90’s with a very modern twist.

If you need a little ambient music for a cocktail party check out this new internet station CHILLTRAX http://www.chilltrax.com

Happy 13th Anniversary Kim! Thanks for putting up with me & my insanity…and a Happy Birthday to Groovy Girl Onie Sanders!

FUTURE LOVE PARADISE

Macon Gardens, Mansions & Moonlight. April 30^th – May 2^nd. Combination Tour Ticket (includes Secret Garden Tour, Historic Homes Tour and Moonlight Tour): $40 in advance, Secret Garden Tour: $15 in advance, Historic Homes Tour: $15 in advance, Moonlight Homes Tour: $15. Tickets: go to the Hay House or online http://www.georgiatrust.org/historic_sites/hayhouse/macon_gardens.php

Kentucky Derby is Saturday, May 1st.  Do you have your derby hat?  If not, Petals Flowers & Gifts & SoChi Services are coming to your emotional rescue with mint juleps in-hand! Friday, April 30 from 4p-7p. Petals Flowers & Gifts, 2380 Ingleside Avenue. Hats, Flowers & Mint Juleps included!

Cost: $25 to register, click here: http://www.facebook.com/?tid=1424900509542&sk=messages#!/event.php?eid=110859362287029&ref=mf

Saturday, May 1^st:  A Trio of Fitness Events will take place in Tattnall Square Park beginning with a Community Workout @ 9am. The Macon Cycling Classic begins @ 10am and races throughout the day. The day at the park ends with the Bragg Jam Moonlight Miles 5k race. 

Kentucky Derby Party @ the Cox Capitol Theatre.  May 1^st.  5-10p.  $10 admission.  Cash Bar, Mint Juleps, Fried Chicken baskets. Throw on a big ‘ole hat and come stomp the grass.

COMMENTS ARE AMUSING & WELCOME!

Event: Kentucky Derby Theme Party
Date: May 1, 2010
Time: 5:00pm ~ Until
Location: The Cox Capitol Theatre, 382 Second Street Macon, Georgia
Attire: Kentucky Derby Chic
Cost: $10 at the door
Signature Drink: Mint Julep

Visit this event on Facebook: http://bit.ly/bcyZHT <http://bit.ly/bcyZHT>

Cherry Blossom Fashion Show 2010
Presented by The Georgia Heart Center and Carlyle Place
Date: Thursday, March 25, 2010
Time: 11:30am – 1:30pm
Location: Macon City Auditorium
Street: 415 1st Street
City/Town: Macon, GA
View Map

Tickets are $35 per person or $300 for tables of 10. For tickets call Mercer Ticket Sales at (478) 301-5470 or buy online at
http://bit.ly/c5uJXT

Visit the Cherry Blossom Fashion Show Facebook Events Page at http://bit.ly/ac2Ea5

About The SoChi Companies:

The SoChi Companies is a multifaceted lifestyle and entertainment group dedicated to offering a wide range of services, from event planning to marketing and promotions, as well as cultural activities and theme parties.

The SoChi Companies office is located at The SoChi Gallery, 534 Second Street in downtown Macon.

For more information, contact Saxy Butler, Director of Communications and Outreach for The SoChi Companies, at or Office Manager Gracen Strong or at 478-238-6630, or on Facebook http://bit.ly/9XwlHs .

“Stuck!” Co-Producer Nominated for TWO Oscars

Macon, GA — Paul N.J. Ottosson, co-producer of the Macon-made movie “Stuck!” starring Karen Black and Mink Stole, was nominated for two Academy Awards last week for the work he did on the Best-Picture nominated film “The Hurt Locker.”

Last week “Stuck!” was honored in Hollywood, California, by the celebrated American Cinematheque with a premiere at Grauman’s Egyptian Theatre.  The nearly sold-out crowd was joined by Macon’s very own Terrell Sandefur, who has a cameo in the film, photographer Maryann Bates, actress Kimbrough Dunwody Donner, and “Stuck!” co-producer Tony Long, Jr.

The film, a black and white film noir prison drama, was directed by Steve Balderson and shot in Macon during April and May of 2009.  “Stuck!” is the centerpiece of the 5th Macon Film Festival and will also screen at the Cox Capitol Theatre on Friday, February 19.

Along with Black and Stole, “Stuck!” co-stars Susan Traylor (“A River Runs Through It”), Jane Wiedlin (of the Go-Go’s), and dozens of Macon actors including September Carter, Tom Morris, Virgil Adams, Judge Bill Self, and Mary Wilder.

“Stuck!” had its World Premiere at the prestigious Raindance Film Festival in London, England, in October, 2009 and made the list on Icon Magazine’s TOP 10 Films of the year.

Critic MJ Simpson, in the UK, writes, “‘Stuck!’ [is] an unexpectedly powerful, skillfully managed slice of women-in-prison drama that never teeters into camp.”

High-resolution Stills may be reprinted with Photo credit: Maryann Bates
1) http://www.dikenga.com/films/stuck/PressKit/images/Maryann-star2.jpg
2) http://www.dikenga.com/films/stuck/PressKit/images/Maryann-karen2.jpg
3) http://www.dikenga.com/films/stuck/PressKit/images/Maryann-stacyplezmink.jpg
For more information visit www.STUCKnoir.com

MACON – SoChi Companies is starting the new year with a cocktail party intended to bring out the honky-tonk in all of us. On January 29, SoChi Companies will host an “Urban Cowboy “ themed party. To get into a western groove, dance classes are available prior to the event with Pilar Wilder at the reins. A mechanical bull will be available to assess your ridin’ skills. Come join us for a rootin’ tootin’ time!

This is just the first of a variety of events planned for 2010.

Event: Urban Cowboy Theme Party
Date: January 29, 2010
Location: SoChi Gallery, 534 Second Street, Macon, Georgia
Attire: Cowboy Duds
Cost: $10 at the door. Cash Bar.
Signature Drink: The City Slicker
Music: DKH Entertainment

Visit the Urban Cowboy Facebook Events Page: http://bit.ly/6G9gd7
The Dance Class Page: http://bit.ly/8kKgZ6
To register for line dance class: http://bit.ly/5aE8Dt
Dance Classes are held at the SoChi Gallery every Wednesday until the event. The class time is 6:15pm – 7:15 pm.

About The SoChi Companies:

The SoChi Companies is a multifaceted lifestyle and entertainment group dedicated to offering a wide range of services, from event planning to marketing and promotions, as well as cultural activities and theme parties.

The SoChi Companies office is located at The SoChi Gallery, 534 Second Street in downtown Macon, Georgia.

For more information, contact Saxy Butler, Director of Communications and Outreach for The SoChi Companies at 478-238-6630, or on Facebook.
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