WISH LIST!!! Garden & Gun Auctions!

Well leave it to my fave magazine to offer the coolest experiential travel experiences ever! Here's the deal (sorry the spacing's a bit janky):

G&G AUCTIONS

Let the Bidding Begin Since our first issue in spring 2007, Garden & Gun has brought the South to life with highly evocative writing, design, and photography. The idea was to make the magazine so rich that readers could taste the mint juleps, smell the jasmine, and feel the shade of the live oaks. Metaphorically, of course. Starting now, Garden & Gun will make some of those experiences literally come to life with the introduction of G&G Auctions. Working with select Southern partners, and with the auction Web site igavel.com, our staff has designed a series of unique adventures that capture the essence of G&G as well as the magic of the South. Throughout the year, we’ll introduce new auction items that cover a broad range of experiences. Some of the upcoming lots include a private dinner party at a Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Southern plantation, a coastal tour (by yacht) of the South’s best golf courses, and an exclusive weekend with chefs, authors, and musicians at Tennessee’s Blackberry Farm. Whether or not you decide to bid, we hope you’ll enjoy reading about these experiences as much as we've enjoyed crafting them. Follow the links below to see the first G&G Auction lots on igavel.com. Going once, going twice… Browse Lot 1: All Access Music & Literary Weekend at Blackberry Farm, including cocktails with Chris Thile and the Punch Brothers band, and dinner with proprietor Sam Beall, G&G editor Sid Evans, and author Julia Reed / June 23–26, 2010 Browse Lot 2: Custom G&G Cypress Kayak and Half-day Paddle with master boatwright Aaron Wells

SCOOP: NY Times' "36 Hours In Richmond"

From Sunday's New York Times: AS the heart of the old Confederacy, Richmond, Va., watched with envy as other cities like Atlanta and Charlotte became the economic and cultural pillars of the New South. But Richmond may finally be having its big moment: a building boom in the last few years has seen century-old tobacco warehouses transformed into lofts and art studios. Chefs are setting up kitchens in formerly gritty neighborhoods, and the city’s buttoned-up downtown suddenly has life after dusk, thanks to new bars, a just-opened hotel and a performing arts complex, Richmond CenterStage. Richmond is strutting with confidence, moving beyond its Civil War legacy and emerging as a new player on the Southern art and culinary scene. (Read more of Justin Bergman's piece here)

SCENE: Hostel In The Forest

Photo: Arjun Mehta

Earth Day Pt. 2 - I stumbled across a link for the Hostel In The Forest during an online visit to Lafayette, LA's Blue Moon Guesthouse. Sleep in a treehouse for just $25 per night!

"The Hostel in the Forest has operated as an International Youth Hostel for 32 years. We are world renowned for our geodesic domes and 9 tree houses, which were built and have been sustained entirely by volunteers. Hundreds of loving hands have gone into making the Hostel what it is today, a fact that is evident as soon as one steps on the property.

The Hostel sits on 120 acres of forest and wetlands, 2 miles from H.W.95 in Brunswick, Georgia. It is located short distances from the famous 'Golden Isles' of St. Simons Island and Jekyll Island. There are also many pristine coastal barrier islands including the famous Cumberland National Seashore close by.

The area is unique in every way, with lush, dense sub-tropical forests containing palms, saw palmettos, magnolia, cedar, holly, pine, and myrtle. Huge live oaks draped with moss contrast with the broadleaf evergreens that are the dominant trees of the forest. Well over three hundred species of birds visit this coastal region annually and dozens of species of reptile and amphibian make this their home. Contrasting the forests and the coastal savannahs are the wetlands and swamps where alligators, river otters and wading birds are prolific."

The property also has a bunch of gardens and a sweat lodge. The Hostel is hosting a yoga retreat May 1 - 3. For more info click here. Namaste!

SCENE: World Grits Festival 4/17 - 19

In late 1985, the store manager of the St. George S.C. Piggly Wiggly Supermarket, Bill Hunter, was giving a broker of a large Grits company an order for grits. The broker made a remark that his company sure shipped a lot of grits into St. George, considering how small the town was and its meager population (around 2,000 at the time). A week or two later another broker from another major grits company made a similar remark about the large quantity of grits shipped into this small town. The manager spoke with the two owners of the Piggly Wiggly, John Walters and George Axson. They all agreed that if it proved to be true that we did consume a disproportionately large amount of grits that they would do some research to find out just how much we did eat.

As it turned out, the people of St. George actually ate more grits per capita than any other place in the world! We were the GRITS EATING CHAMPIONS!!! Thus the World Grits Festival was born. John Walters, one the owners of that Piggly Wiggly, was designated as the Chairman of the first festival, which was held in April 1986, and served in that capacity until 1988. Since the very first festival, this weekend long celebration has drawn much attention to this small Southern town, considered to be a bedroom community of Charleston, SC. It has been estimated that the crowds during this three day event sometimes exceed 45,000!

The festival is not, however, all fun and games. From the very start it has been dedicated to communtity improvement. It provides the local folks a festival of wholesome, family fun and our students some needed scholarships while also attracting lots of vistors to enjoy the multitude of events that are designed to appeal to persons of all ages. (source)

The World Grits Festival runs from 4/17 - 19 in St. George, SC.

ART/SCENE: 2009 Ozark Folk School (3/15 - 20)

Go see what the Ozark Folk Center in Mountain View, Arkansas is really about! Study for a week under a serious craftsperson or musician and enjoy a relaxed atmosphere of camaraderie and fun.

The 2009 classes for Ozark Folk School are being lined up now. Over 20 Craft classes will be offered including Blacksmithing, Pottery, Jewelry Making, Knife Making, Quilting, Basketry, Wood Carving and Loom Weaving. Tuition is $250 for the five day workshop week, with some instructors charging additional materials fees. Extracurricular activities include free Southern Mountain Folk Dancing, a "Gallery Walk" of instructor and student work, Blanchard Springs Cavern tour, a documentary film showing and a Music Instructor's Concert. Contact them at (870)269-3851 for more information. Enrollment is limited so when you see the class you want, register! A 5 Night lodging package is available for $305.25 as well as a complete or partial meal plan.

The Ozark Folk Center is America’s only facility that works at sharing the heritage and way of life of the Ozark Mountain People. It’s lively. It’s entertaining. It makes learning about Ozark history and heritage loads of fun. It’s an adventure to yesterday’s Ozark way of life that you can see, touch and enjoy today.”The Ozark Folk Center, dedicated to providing living history exists to: preserve, document, display and interpret the cultural and social history of the Ozark region, an area that takes up part of five states: Arkansas, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma.

SCENE/ART: UPCOMING SOUTHERN ARTS FESTIVALS

Coles Corner Image

The South nabs half the spots on American Style Magazine’s readers’ poll of the top arts festivals in the county (Feb 09 issue, out now):

Kentucky Crafted: The Market Louisville, Ky.

Kentucky Crafted: The Market is something of a hybrid show. The first two days are only open to the trade. Once the weekend hits, the show opens to the public, who turn out en masse to purchase work made exclusively by Kentucky artisans. “It’s well-stocked with a variety of talented artists,” explains attendee Jennifer Escobar of Berea, Ky. “The entertainment is high quality, the city is lovely, and the food is excellent!” Kentucky Crafted: The Market reopens to the public Feb. 21-22 at the Kentucky Exposition Center. For details, visit www.artscouncil.ky.gov.

Bayou City Art Festival Houston, Texas

“The weather is always great, the music is always great, and the art is always great!” says reader Danielle Foulkrod-Chema of Pearland, Texas. The Bayou City Art Festival, held biannually in Houston, seems to be blessed with good weather; many of its supporters specifically mentioned it as a highlight of the festival. Food, atmosphere and children’s activities also earned raves, but the art is what makes this festival a perennial reader favorite. The Bayou City Art Festival returns to Memorial Park March 27-29 and will surround City Hall Oct. 10-11. To learn more, visit www.bayoucityartfestival.com.

St. James Court Art Show Louisville, Ky.

With a backdrop of historic homes almost as picturesque as the art on display, the St. James Court Art Show is among the largest in the country, with 750 juried exhibitors. “The vendors and visitors come from all over the U.S., and you have such a mix of wonderful items to view and purchase,” enthuses local resident Donna Wallace. The festival has grown significantly since its 1957 inception as a clothesline exhibition, and is still produced by a group of five nonprofits. The show returns Oct. 2-4. To learn more, visit www.stjamescourtartshow.com.

Francisco’s Farm Arts Festival at Midway College Midway, Ky.

Another festival earning accolades for its idyllic setting is the still-young Francisco’s Farm Arts Festival, held on the campus of Midway College in Midway, Ky., a 205-acre working farm. “Francisco’s Farm is an outstanding art festival drawing artists and craftspeople from several states,” says supporter Jane Vancee of Versailles, Ky. “It is held in a beautiful setting … as pretty as any place in England!” The fifth annual event takes place June 27-28 in the heart of Kentucky horse country with more than 150 artists working in all mediums. Visit www.franciscosfarm.org for information

Kentuck Festival of the Arts Northport, Ala.

“I make a pilgrimage to Kentuck every year because I am guaranteed to find amazing work, and ninety-five percent of the time I get to meet the artist who created it,” says Ashley Day of Brooklyn, N.Y. “The quality is consistently outstanding.” Few other shows in the top 10 received so many votes from out-of-towners, singling this fair out as a particularly special event. With more than 300 artists in a wooded park, the festival features a wide range of work, from contemporary craft to folk and outsider art. The festival returns Oct. 17-18. For more information, visit www.kentuck.org.

SCENE: A Street Car Named Phunny!

7PM Tonight in New Orleans: The Phunny Phorty Phellows herald the arrival of the Mardi Gras season with its annual streetcar parade ride.

The costumed and masked krewe will assemble on Twelfth Night, January 6, 2009 at Canal Street Station (Canal & N. White) at 6:30pm. At 7pm sharp, the Phunny Phorty Phellows will board the streetcar and begin their ride to "Herarld the Arrival of Carnival" down the St. Charles Ave. Streetcar Line.

The Phellows, commonly referred to as the "Dessert of Carnival," are an historic Mardi Gras organization that first took to the streets 1878 through 1898. They were known for their satirical parades and today's krewe members’ costumes often reflect topical themes. The group was revived in 1981.

A full schedule of season parades can be found here. Mardi Gras day itself is February 24, 2009.

SCENE: Book, Zine, Art & Music Fair - Bham, AL (11/14 & 15)

If I was in Alabama this weekend, I'd be headed here:

Greencup Books, Bare Hands Gallery, and The2ndHand announce the inaugural Greencup Books Book, Zine, and Music Fair, featuring local and regional writers, literary magazines, small presses, comix artists, record labels and bands, zine makers, and handmade book artists, along with live music and readings. The fair runs Friday and Saturday, November 14 and 15. Although aimed at promoting local and area talent, print and music organizations from Alabama, neighboring states, and beyond are welcome. The fair will be held at Greencup Books and at neighboring Bare Hands Art Gallery. Aside from our participants’ info and merchandise tables, the fair will feature readings from participating authors along with music each night from area bands, beginning at 7 p.m. Join us Friday night for a welcome party/reception for participating vendors, followed by a creative reading by THE2NDHAND, followed by live music. The party begins at 6 p.m. On Saturday, readings will occur periodically during the day, followed by performances and an afterparty at the bookstore. The afterparty begins at 9:30 p.m.

LOCATION: 105 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. South in downtown Birmingham, Alabama, one door over from Bare Hands Gallery. Call (205) 533-8445 for information.

Housed in the coolest rambling brick building in Birmingham, Alabama, Greencup Books is a not-for-profit community bookstore and publisher that publishes original titles in a variety of genres—including poetry, fiction, art, agitprop, and classics—and sells the most unique and eclectic selection of used and new books, original art, and ephemera in the area. Events at Greencup Books include book release parties, visual media premieres, readings, art exhibitions, improv, and music performance. The mission of Greencup Books is to foster an active community of grounded literati/art folks dedicated to creativity through collaboration. Sales proceeds pay the bills and fund the various free classes/events. Donations are warmly accepted and rapidly put to good purpose. Volunteers who are interested in working with Greencup Books please email mike@greencupbooks.org.

But luckily there's also some cool southernist stuff happening in NYC this weekend as well. More info tomorrow...

SCOOP: FT. RUCKER, AL by Katrina Rodgers

Just in time for Veteran’s Day, Army wife-to-be Katrina Rogers gives us “THE SCOOP” on Ft. Rucker, AL:

When I tell people I live in Alabama, they usually think I’m close to Birmingham. I actually live 3-4 hours south of Birmingham and have never been here; Alabama is bigger than you think! Chances are, if you are not an Alabama native, you’re not exactly up to speed on your Alabama geography, and I’m sure if my fiance and I had not moved here with the Army, we would never have heard of the area known as the “Wiregrass.” This area includes southeast Alabama, very northern Florida, and southwest Georgia. You might be wondering what on earth there is to do in this area of the country—I know I was! Well, you just have to know where to look.

If you’re feeling ambitious, Atlanta is only 3 and half hours away, and there are so many thing to do there I couldn’t even begin to count (the aquarium is fun; the Coca Cola factory lets active duty military in free!) Montgomery, the capitol of Alabama, is not quite two hours away, and that’s where you’ll find the closest reasonably priced airfare. Panama City and Destin, Florida, are only a two and a half hour drive—here you can find the Gulf of Mexico, many beaches, and all accompanying activities (crab restaurants!)

But no one wants to go that far every weekend, and certainly not with the high gas prices we have had lately as a result of hurricane season. So what is there to do in your own backyard down here? The first thing you have to see in Enterprise is the statue in the middle of town. Long ago, the Boll Weevil, an insect, destroyed all of the area’s cotton crops. Farmers were forced to switch to another crop, peanuts, which turned out to be a fantastic economic change for the region. The statue was erected in 1919 to honor the Boll Weevil for bringing, in a roundabout way, prosperity to the area. Originally the statue was just a woman; the Boll Weevil at the top was added in 1949. The statue in the center of town now is just a replica—the original was moved to the Enterprise Depot Museum in 1998 due to vandalism (the Boll Weevil was stolen right off the top). It is the only statue in the country and most likely in the world to honor an agricultural pest.

Peanuts are also honored in the Wiregrass area. The city of Dothan, 30 miles from Enterprise, is known as the Peanut Capital of the Nation, and rightly so. Sixty-five percent of all the peanuts grown in the United States are grown within a 100 mile radius of Dothan! To celebrate this title, Dothan holds the National Peanut Festival every fall. The festival was first held in 1938 and lasted 3 days; it is now a 10 day event that draws over 163,000 visitors. Be prepared to wait in line to park! At the festival, you can find more than your average share of carnival rides, carnival games, displays (this year they had sea lions!), arts and crafts, a parade, fireworks, and a Miss National Peanut Festival Pageant. In addition, Dothan is a good place for many army wives to find jobs. There also an airport here, although it is horribly overpriced and only flies to and from Atlanta.

Speaking of army wives: last but never least, the Wiregrass area is the home of Ft. Rucker, the primary home of Army Aviation and flight training. It is also the home of Warrant Officer Candidate (WOC) School. Ft. Rucker opened on May 1, 1942 as Camp Rucker (the name was changed in 1955). The population on post in the 2000 census was 6,000, but many army folks live off post. The important thing to remember is that because of this, Enterprise and neighboring Daleville are much more transient areas than other towns. Flight training generally takes about one and a half to two years, so the real estate trends don’t necessarily follow the economic trends since people are always buying, selling, and renting. I have never seen so many townhouses in my life as in Enterprise, Alabama!

So, bottom line: there is more happening here than you think. A good place to get more information about local events and activities in the Wiregrass is on the website of the local radio station, WKMX in their “What’s Up Wiregrass” section. There are things going on at Ft. Rucker several times a month, so there are no excuses for not getting out and getting to know the area! (end)

Katrina Rodgers is a Gettysburg College graduate with a degree in Women’s Studies. She is currently living in Enterprise, Alabama with her fiance and looking forward to finally marrying him in December!

SCENE: SHOWDOWN IN T-TOWN (Tuscaloosa/Northport, AL)

Whether it’s football, art, BBQ or ghosts, competition is king on both sides of the Black Warrior River this weekend.

The 37th Annual Kentuck Festival of the Arts kicks off its all-encompassing 2-day celebration of Southern Folk Life tomorrow (10/18) in Northport’s Kentuck Park. Nestled on the banks of the Black Warrior River, under a cool canopy of tall trees, the festival offers a feast for the eyes, ears and palate, and a gentle alternative to the rammer jammer mayhem of UA game day over in adjoining Tuscaloosa.

WHY GO: Kentuck is Alabama’s most notable arts festival. It’s been named a Top Twenty Event by the Southeast Tourism Society, has received the Alabama Governor's Arts Award, and has been designated a “local legacy” by the U.S. Library of Congress. The festival boasts over 250 invited folk and visionary artists from across the country and celebrates both traditional Southern folk art and emerging American craft artists. Browse, buy, and learn across all mediums – from painting, pottery, and assemblage, to quilting, sculpture and basket weaving, to name a few.

Kentuck For Kids keeps the little ones engaged with hands-on craft demos and a petting zoo, among many other activities.

Kentuck gives a nod to Alabama’s esteemed literary history with an appearance by West African storyteller Diane Williams.

Two stages of music feature a variety of complementary genres from Cajun and blues to jazz and folk, welcoming such national and regional artists as Afrissippi, the Figs and Willie Sonny Boy King. In addition, food vendors will offer an assortment of local and ethnic specialties.

TICKETS: Two-day tickets are $15 per person. Dailies are $10. Children under twelve admitted at no charge. Tickets can be purchased online in advance at www.kentuck.org

GETTING AROUND: With annual attendance estimated at 30,000 visitors, as well as the Crimson Tide hosting Ole Miss (along with 92K+ football fanatics) on 10/18, it may be slow–going getting around in this small enclave. Festival organizers provide shuttle bus service to Kentuck Park from several key locations around town.

ROLL TIDE: Although the Cotton Bowl champion University of Alabama Crimson Tide football team is playing at home this weekend, good luck gaining entrance into the house that Bear built. Win or lose, that ticket stays hot, and the tide is on a winning roll right now!! Join the revelers on the green and around the stadium for pre and post game tailgating. In between time, head over to Wings, owned by Bob Baumhower, an All-American from the University of Alabama and 6-time All-Pro for the Miami Dolphins, for traditional sports bar cuisine and “lots of screens.” A smaller, but no less raucous, option is Tuscaloosa’s favorite hole-in-the-wall, Egan’s. In the shadow of Bryant-Denny Stadium you can savor the Tide’s victorious past at the Paul W. Bryant Museum.

13 GHOSTS: Not haunted by the “Bear?” Real ghosts await at the Drish House, an endangered landmark and one of Alabama’s most famous haunted houses. Another bloodcurdling year is planned for the United Cerebral Palsy's Fright Factory which is now located in an old Winn-Dixie. Got skeletons of your own? Head down Hwy 69 to visit with psychic reader Mrs. West.

ROLLING ON THE RIVER: With all this back and forth across the river, it may be high time to get out on the Black Warrior. The Bama Belle, a romantic paddlewheel replica, sails on Saturdays at 1PM from April thru November.

SLEEP: While the area has lost its only 2 B&B’s over the past 3 years it has gained 5 new chain hotels, but good luck scoring a room. Football weekends sell out early even with prices raised double and triple their normal rate! Rumor has it though that the newly renovated Home-Towne Suites had a block of 60 rooms available as of close of business last night (10/16).

EAT: For me, breakfast at the Waffle House is mandatory during any trip below the Mason Dixon line. Grub out on a soft, thin, crispy waffle dripping with butter and syrup, eggs, cheese grits, and hash browns - scattered, smothered, covered, chopped, diced, peppered, capped or topped. If you’ve got a taste for amazing biscuits, the locals flock to The Waysider to get their fix.

BBQ BATTLE: "Ain't nothing like ‘em nowhere" is the motto at the legendary Dreamland Bar-B-Que which has been serving up ribs and sauce since 1958. The location in Tuscaloosa is argued to be “the best,” but the Northport spot has a wider variety of menu options. Wear a bib ‘cause you’re definitely gettin’ some on ya! (Me and my favorite baby blue shirt learned that the hard way).

“Dreamland is a distant, distant second to Archibald's in Northport,” insists a reader of the single southern guy blog. “There is also an Archibald's in Cottondale, down the road a bit. Northport also has Archibald's & Woodrow's. And Woodrow's in beautiful downtown Tuscaloosa. All serve the same great 'cue and the same sauce. ALL will beat Dreamland's, which is still an excellent rib. And all serve butt as well as rib, chopped or sliced, but not pulled.”

For fine dining and a selection of award-winning wines, try the Globe restaurant in downtown Northport for an eclectic and Shakespearian inspired menu (i.e. Twelfth Night Trout, the Much Ado club).

SCENE: Carolina Craft Attack

DIYers in NC are keeping the Tar Heel State’s long tradition of craft and design fresh, modern and innovative from the relative new(ish)comer Spoonflower, which gives folks an easy way to design and print their own fabric on demand, to the team of Etsy-iers who are hocking their wares both online daily and THIS WEEKEND in person at:

Carolina Craft Attack - Saturday, Oct 11 - 9:30AM – 5PM (rain or shine) @

Independence Neighborhood Park - 300 Hawthorne Lane, Charlotte NC

“Traditional craft has been at the center of North Carolina life for centuries, whether made by Native Americans, Scots-Irish immigrants, enthusiasts who 'rediscovered' crafts in the last century, or contemporary artisans who celebrate both form and function in endlessly creative ways. Today, craft is a $538 million creative industry in North Carolina, practiced by more than 6,000 craft artisans working in clay, glass, metals, fibers, wood and other disciplines. It is a living tradition, constantly reinventing itself, and constantly inviting you to participate through visiting, viewing or even making crafts of your own.” (source)

Whether you want browse, buy or actually learn for yourself, ops to score your fix abound in every corner of the state:

Penland School of Crafts in the Blue Ridge Mountains
Mint Museum of Craft & Design in Charlotte
Southern Highland Craft Guild in Asheville
John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown
Qualla Open Air Indian Market in Cherokee

Mountain Heritage Center at Western Carolina University

Or you can blaze a new trail with HomegrownHandmade’s alliance between arts and agriculture.

SCENE: 10/10 & 11 - Art & Design converge in Tuscumbia, AL

Award-winning creative director/designer/photographer Robert Rausch has launched a series of design exhibitions at his GAS Design Center in Tuscumbia, AL. In conjunction with the upcoming exhibitions, GAS will host workshops, lectures and community events. This weekend he welcomes “Ceremony” by fellow Shoals native and esteemed design maven Natalie Chanin:

Friday, Oct 10 @ 6:30PM – Lecture on Design & Community by Natalie Chanin
@ GAS – 109A West 6th St., Tuscumbia, AL
Saturday, Oct 11 @ 4PM – Alabama Stitch Book signing at Cold Water Books
Saturday, Oct 11 @ 6PM – Ceremony Reception at GAS

Robert Rausch combines his talents as a designer and photographer with interest in sustainable and slow design. Be sure to check out his Etsy shop for cool upcycled glassworks.

SCOOP: Ft. Gaines, GA by Mallory Hill

As I drive, I a catch the faint smell of peanuts through the AC. I instinctively roll down the windows and take in the fresh country air. The smell of the harvest rolls over me and I realize, I am home.

This is how I feel when I go home, though the seasons and the smells change, I can always tell by the change in the air I am nearing home. It's a different and fresh world, and I love it. For me Fort Gaines, Georgia is home. It is a small quiet town in rural Southwest Georgia, but it has become one of the favorite getaways for the friends I've made over the years. They always love going home with me because they know it is an escape each time. The world moves a little slower and it's easy to just relax.

I know for most "city folk" would look at this town as a place where there's nothing to do. Well they are right and dead wrong all at the same time. You can drink in history or you can just sit in a swing and drink sweet tea; it makes no difference to us. Just kick back and relax as the world spins a little slower.

Fort Gaines was an active fort during the Indian wars. It held a prime spot on a bluff over-looking the Chattahoochee River. The fort is long gone but there is a historic village that has been created where it once stood. Historic homes that once rested all over the region have been donated and moved to this location to give visitors an idea of what things looked like 200 years ago. A tower stands atop the hill that is a recreation of one of the towers that originally stood as a part of the fort. As you climb inside and look across the river you realize why this was the perfect place to set up defenses. A massive cannon is still perched ready to fire on Alabama. The Frontier Village as it is called is a wonderful place to visit any time of year. Most of the buildings on the site are open and you are free to look around. There is a large hall that remains locked that was once home to the Fort Gaines Women's Club and is still used today for gatherings of all kinds including my wedding reception.

There is one day each year this building is open to the public. It is the day Fort Gaines and the Frontier Village sees the most visitors and that is the day of the annual Christmas at the Fort. Every year on the Saturday before Thanksgiving the Frontier Village is swarmed with guests browsing the seemingly endless lines of vendors carrying everything from home-made jams and jellies, crafts, jewelry, boiled p-nuts and fresh ground cane juice and syrup made as you watch. If you're hungry grab one of Granny's Apple Dumplings after you've picked up your barbecue made in the VW Bug smoker or any of the delicious goodies you can find. Wonder around the used book sale as you enjoy the music from live local performers. Everyone's friendly and you're sure to find something you love.

November has become a busy month in Fort Gaines now that they are having the second annual Georgia's Longest Yard Sale. It stretches from the Georgia line down 60 something miles of Hwy 37 through numerous small towns. You can find all kinds of goodies from antiques to crafts and home-made barbeque on the Saturday before Veterans Day each year. You may want to bring a trailer to carry all of your goodies home with you.

On the northern side of town you will find Lake Walter F George. Here you can find some of the South's best fishing in this 23 mile long lake stretching between Georgia and Alabama. The dam houses some of Georgia Power's best hydroelectric generators and helped form this beautiful lake. The shores are home to the annual July 4th fireworks show that draws visitors from areas all around. A few miles north of town you will find George T Bagby State Park sitting right on the banks of the lake. Here you can stay in their spacious lodge and enjoy your meals in the restaurant porch while you gaze at the lake or share a more intimate visit in one of their lakefront cabins. The park has several hiking trails that wonder through the woods and allow you to experience its southern nature. If you take a walk through the park around sunset you are almost guaranteed to see some of the many deer that inhabit this park or the local family of foxes that call it home. If you are a golfer , Bagby is home to one of Georgia's championship golf courses.

If you just want to experience more of the town's history there is a town tour you can take. Put on your walking shoes or hop in your car and follow the map around town. It points at many historic locations and gives you some of the history of these places. Don't expect to be able to go inside most of these locations since many of them are homes, including my parents house which was built in 1880. One place you can go in and look around is the museum. Located downtown, it is filled with items that have been donated by families in the area and is rich with history.

Crickets and frogs will sing you to sleep each night and you'll see more stars than you can imagine. As you drive on to where ever the road leads you every car you meet will greet you with a smile. It's a simple town but its simplicity will relax your mind and rejuvenate your soul. Roll down your window and drink it in.

Mallory Hill is a proud Army wife who splits her time between Fort Gaines, GA and Fort Hood, TX. She recently started her own photography business, Pope Hill Photography, with which she specializes in helping military families share their lives.

SCOOP: Greensboro, NC by Stephanie Sherman

Elsewhere Artist Collaborative's Director of Concept and Design Stephanie Sherman gives Southernist "the scoop" on insider hotspots in Greensboro, NC:

ART: Elsewhere!! is an arts production site and experimental museum that brings innovative contemporary artists to Greensboro to participate in the transformation of a three-story former thrift store housing one woman's immense 58-year collection of surplus objects. (See more info below)

SLEEP: The Proximity Hotel is an awesome new green hotel. New World Moxie - Old World Hospitality -Vibrant Restaurant - Creative Events - Stylish Loft-Like Guestrooms - A Green & Eco Friendly Hotel. "Greensboro is an apt name for a town that will be home to one of the greenest hotels in the country." - New York Times, September 2007

EAT: 223 restaurant (223 south elm street) has incredible experimental southern food that appears totally wacky but is actually delicious. Very innovative combinations.

SHOP: A new store on McGee St. in downtown called "Love Your Friends Be Social"is a mix of skateboard, hip-hop, designer genre with some really great colorful kicks and nice sunglasses. Also, there's a great vintage store called Design Archives on Tate Street (a little ways from downtown).

More about Elsewhere: Elsewhere's international visiting artist program invites innovative cultural producers to create new, site specific works across media using the materials of Elsewhere's collection. Artists work with and within a living artwork, continually transforming Sylvia's collection and past artists' work into a building-wide collaborative installation. At Elsewhere neither object nor artwork is for sale, instead, a continually circulating environment of art and object provides imaginative experiences for audiences and artists alike. Elsewhere's fifth season, running March to November 2008, will include over 35 international creators and feature a complete schedule of openings, Artist Conversations, performances, workshops, new installations, happenings, and events.

2008 marks the bicentennial of Greensboro, NC.

SCENE: Doo-Nanny 2008

Ousider artist and all around cool guy Butch Anthony held his annual Doo-Nanny on his property in Seale, AL last weekend.

The photo above was taken at Butch's in 2005. He has created a wondrous, magical environment of art, nature, sculpture, and oddities. Transformative and experiential. Doo-Nanny 2007: roadside art fair during the day in nearby Pittsview. That evening, under a clear and starry eastern-AL night sky, we watched short films, ate a potluck dinner/BBQ, and danced barefooted to live old-timey music. Sort of hard to get to, but absolutely worth the journey.