First Friday, snapshot of activities in Macon

Sit with your kiddos to hear Dr. Seuss’s stories this weekend. Or join a bike ride exploring Macon’s newest trails. Gently enter the world of intellectual disabilities or discuss mental health issues with community leaders. Immerse yourself in Stevie Wonder’s music or visit a new art gallery or older ones featuring all sorts of creative works. Enjoy some of the city’s great chefs’ finest dishes.

You can do all this, and still there’s much, much more to do this weekend, like getting your kazoo groove on in preparation for the end of the month’s kazoo-palooza at the Atrium Health Amphitheater.

The point is, this may be the worst week imaginable for the always questionable complaint that there’s nothing to do around Macon. 

With only on-and-off comments, here’s a snapshot of some of what you can get into:

Theatre Macon opens its run of “The Boys Next Door” Friday, a cohesive series of humorous-to-hilarious vignettes written by Tom Griffin about four individuals with intellectual disabilities who live in a communal home under the oversight of a compassionate but nearing-burnout social worker. In a vein Theatre Macon is known for, it’s a winning play with a social thrust, in this case, the importance of understanding and acceptance regarding those with disabilities who, like everyone, seek fulfillment and connection in a world that is sometimes hard to understand. The play is directed by Theatre Macon’s Richard Frazier-Sostillio and it runs through March 17. Times and ticketing are at theatremacon.com.

On the Table Central Georgia wraps up community-wide discussions of topics and ideas exploring how the power of collaboration can help make our community stronger, safer and more dynamic with the desire to create a movement encouraging each person to do more for the good of all. Topics range from business to the arts to wellness to social issues. Many of the remaining topics deal with mental health, poverty and strengthening individuals and families at risk. Tables are sponsored but individuals, groups and just plain folks are invited to participate along with leaders in the topics. Everyone’s voice is welcome. How does this relate to arts, entertainment and cool things to do? Well, sometimes the coolest thing to do is to engage with those around us to voice concerns, find information and opportunities, and even create solutions. Proceed to www.onthetablecentralga.com to register and get in on the remaining dozen or so table discussions.

Friday is March’s First Friday and that multiplies things to do. Get in on what’s new at downtown galleries and even get by Macon’s newest gallery during the First Friday Art Crawl:

Sheridan Studios, operated by Ginny Lane Sheridan at 586 Poplar St., is Macon’s newest gallery, opening last Friday.  It will be open for First Friday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. or, “maybe later,” according to Sheridan. Currently, the studio primarily features Sheridan’s work.

The 567 Center for Renewal, 456 1st St., opens its 12th Annual Bibb County Schools Student Art Exhibition from 5-8 p.m. Friday. The exhibit is in celebration of Youth Art Month and features works by local elementary, middle and high school students. It’s a not-to-be-missed show. Light refreshments are served.

The Macon Arts Alliance gallery at 486 1st St. opens “Blossom” from 4-7 p.m., highlighting 25 local artists working in an array of mediums.

Green Light Gallery, 452 1st St., brings Macon’s Bobby Huellemeier back to town for an exhibit beginning First Friday. Hours are 5-8 p.m. with an artist talk at 5:30 p.m. Huellemeier has found creative expression in many areas, from drawing to sculpting to woodworking to his work as a chef. And can we add to that his time as a scholarshipped Mercer
University baseball player?

McEachern Arts Center, 333 2nd St., continues its show of Kandy Lopez’s breathtaking work ranging from textiles to painting to collage and more. The show, titled “Vaivén,” opened in February and runs through March 22 during McEachern’s 4-8 p.m. hours Thursdays through Saturdays.

Gallery West, at 447 3rd St., continues its 10th anniversary celebration with a reception from 5-9 p.m. featuring Kirk West’s photos and books. West has photographed a vast array of blues, rock, country and other artists during his career. You’ll recognize a great majority of his subjects and are likely to find some of your favorites. Of special note is a grouping of photographs taken by West in the early years of his career that were shot and developed by him back in the day. Each is also hand-signed and available at special pricing. And the kicker: stop in the gallery in March for 25% off all of West’s photos.

Seuss on the Loose is a First Friday special event celebrating Dr. Seuss’s birthday, which coincides with Read Across America Week. It’s happening at NewTown Macon’s Family Fun Zone in Third Street Park across from Hello Boba. It’s 5:30-7:30 p.m. with readings from Dr. Seuss’s books, character meet and greets, crafts – some led by Macon folk artist Rhonda Miller, games, photos and other activities along with live music from the children’s band Green Grass Green. There’s also a downtown StoryWalk with pages of a Seuss book prominently in the windows of select businesses.

For grownups, there are all the restaurants, shops, venues and other great features of First Friday, expanding further with spots like the Rabbit Hole, 811 Forsyth St., staying open until 8 p.m. with wine, bubbles and conversation amid their unique collection of fine art, provisions, home goods, plants and more. Look for NewTown Macon’s March First Friday Downtown Macon event on Facebook for a good source of First Friday happenings.

Join the First Friday
Kazoo Jam with Visit Macon at 5 p.m. at Dunlap Park, 469 3rd St. It’s a warm-up to the March 28 attempt at capturing the Largest Kazoo Ensemble World Record at the Atrium Health Amphitheatre. Stop by for kazoo-themed promo items and to learn how to get your buzz on as a kazooist. Also, if you want to learn more about kazoos and their history – and how Macon is kazooing’s first city – check out the Tubman Museum’s current kazoo exhibit.

Dish It! at Braddock’s Cask & Table, Oliver’s Corner Bistro and Dovetail to taste new flavor creations and vote for your favorite through Sunday in Macon Magazine’s Chef Challenge. There’s also an opportunity to donate to the Middle Georgia Community Food Bank. To find out more about the contest, go to maconmagazine.com/vote.

Don’t forget: the Bike Walk Macon Streets for All Fest runs through Saturday as examined here last week. Among the many rides and events are Saturday’s $20 behind the scenes ride along the Ocmulgee Heritage Trail and free Cotton Avenue Plaza Party celebrating 10 years of Bike Walk. All the information is at www.bikewalkmacon.com/streetsforallfest.

The Amethyst Baroque Ensemble, a popular Atlanta-based Baroque chamber ensemble, presents a concert Friday at 8 p.m. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 801 Poplar St. Cost is $20 with no one turned away due to inability to pay. Local guest performers will join the ensemble in a program including Bach’s Harpsichord Concerto in F and Scarlatti’s Cantata E perche non sequito o pastorelle.

On Saturday, the Museum of Arts and Sciences presents Plants and Pollinators Family Day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at its 4182 Forsyth Road location. Learn about Plants and Pollinators through educational activities, demonstrations and more. Activities are included in general admission and free for members.

Saturday is Family Aviation Day at the Museum of Aviation, 1942 Heritage Blvd. in Warner Robins. Admission is free and there will be open cockpits and aircraft to explore, WWII re-enactors, STEM activities, pilots and guides telling their fascinating stories tied to onsite aircraft and more. More information can be found at museumofaviation.org.

Macon Pops brings the Music of Stevie Wonder to the Macon City Auditorium with “Wonderful – The Marvelous Music of Stevie Wonder.” It’s at 7:30 p.m. at the auditorium, 415 1st St. Familiar soulful melodies come together with the Pop’s stirring arrangements and outstanding musicianship for a musical journey through Wonder’s legendary career. More is at maconpops.com.

The Macon Film Guild celebrates 25 years Sunday with an encore 2 p.m. showing of “Loving Vincent” and 5 p.m. showing of “Beasts of the Southern Wild” at the Douglass Theatre, 355 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. The Guild brings quality independent and foreign language films and documentaries to Middle Georgia monthly. The cost is $5 for admission to films. At 3:45 on Sunday, there will be an anniversary reception with hors d’oeuvres, wine and beer.

I can’t help but encourage you to take a look up while you’re out and about catching all you can downtown this weekend and notice that many street signs have been converted to include the street’s name in the Muskogee (Creek) language. Ayv-v-to
hvsko!

Contact writer Michael W. Pannell at mwpannell@gmail.com. Find him on Instagram at @michael_w_pannell.