Archive for September, 2007

Wren’s Nest Ramblings

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Today is a day full of noises at the Wren’s Nest.

The following have been provided by Imani “Goofball” Harris, our resident 3-year-old/delivery person/crybaby:

• Horse noises. Though “not as scary as monsters,” they have been labeled “just as obnoxious” by Lain.
• Sleepy Little Ducks’ quacking. I would describe them as slightly more taciturn than the ducks typically portrayed by Imani.
• The phrase “I don’t think so” approximately 11 times in succession, for reasons unknown.
• General excitement giggles. These have been the result of: needing to use the bathroom, the color pink, my hair, playing babies (or something), and Lain’s goofy face, where he got smacked! It was hilarious!
• Plentiful use of the word “please”. It is magic, after all.

I could keep going, probably indefinitely, but Imani’s not the only one with something to crow about.

Many of you have probably wondered if Lain is truly as weenie as he is portrayed on this blog. Others of you know he is.

In order to get one step closer to knowing the man(boy), the legend, the voice of the Wren’s Nest, I present you the following opportunity: hear the actual voice of Wren’s Nest Executive Director and General Weenie Lain Shakespeare.

You see, dear reader, Lain has been diligently working to create podcasts with our storytellers. While the set is not yet complete, you get a sneak peak for being so awesome and all.

Several more stories are planned for the series, but first Lain needs to take some lessons from a voice coach. Just kidding. We like him just the way he is.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, Imani and I are deep in conversation, or something like it, about her name being “Goofball” and her impending foray into the world of education. As Jeri rightfully stated, “Goofballs can learn too.”

The Beltline Arboretum: Miracle Mile?

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Is anyone else here moderately (or even not so moderately) obsessed with the Beltline?

Here’s the latest, via the always awesome Maria Saporta–the Blank Foundation will fund the first mile of the Beltline arboretum as well as the planning for the entire loop.

The development of the arboretum will be in the capable hands of Trees Atlanta and the PATH Foundation.

This first mile of the Beltline arboretum is about three blocks south of the Wren’s Nest, and runs more or less along the train tracks.

For those of you who haven’t heard of (or paid attention to) the Beltline, it’s really remarkable. The plan–a 22 mile loop of transit, trails, and parks around the city of Atlanta. I guess that means an arboretum, too.

The vast majority of the land in question is old railroad tracks, covered in kudzu and lined with industrial buildings, many abandoned. Ultimately, the project will connect 42 different neighborhoods, increase density, and preserve a whole mess of historic buildings. In other words, the Beltline is the single most transformative public works project in the country.

By transformative, of course, I mean profoundly positive. This is one of the first steps in something great, folks.

Wren’s Nest Disappointment

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In July of 2006, I had one of my first “adult” experiences with the Wren’s Nest, shortly before I became executive director.

Some friends were in town, and I had taken them by to see where I’d be working, starting the next week. We arrived at 2:15 pm or so, and I knew that the Wren’s Nest closed at 2:30.

As we got out of the car, someone shouted from the screen door across the little parking lot, “Sorry, we’re closed! Gotta run!” and left it at that.

(That’s where the screen door opens)

We hadn’t even closed the doors to the car yet. We headed home, across town.

It wasn’t hard to see the problem. Why didn’t the Wren’s Nest have more visitors? Well, for one, they were actually being turned away. Then those folks that were turned away would tell the next person they saw: “Do you know what happened to me when I tried to go to the Wren’s Nest?” And so on.

Ever since that day, (more…)

Decatur Book Festival in Pictures, Part Three

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Sunday was a big day for the Wren’s Nest: we sold out of several of our books, we had better footwear (or lack thereof) and hydration strategies, and for one magical hour, the main stage on the square for storytelling. It’s hard to be this famous.

Here’s Josie with a volunteer, who had a scarf stuck into her waistband the moment she stepped on stage and was then immediately instructed to shake her new tail. Price of fame, folks.  You can also see Donald’s hands on the drum and Akbar lounging appreciatively. Or so I assume.

Check out our Executive Director, hard at work and barefoot. Note: a couple hours later one of the folks in charge nonchalantly referred to Lain as “that young punk who runs the museum”. I think I nearly burst trying to play it cool in the wake of that statement.

I bet you can barely imagine being so thoroughly entertained.

Success! Can’t you just imagine that all those brochures and bookmarks Josie is holding are actually million dollar bills? Me too.

This is the Decatur Mist Fountain, which was right outside of the main tent. For some reason, this fountain is the greatest thing anyone between the ages of 4 and 8 has ever seen.

Our tent and staff, along with Craig, Andalusia’s answer to Lain. No one else got the arms akimbo memo.

And that, friends, was the Wren’s Nest experience at the Decatur Book Festival. Pretty great, huh. And that’s all without even mentioning how great Kinky Friedman was! Goodness.

Decatur Book Festival in Pictures, Part Two

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Since Lain has given you a brief run-down of the first day of the festival, I’ll pick up with the early evening of Saturday, which was focused on our brand spanking new teen literary magazine, Soy Nut Butter.

Here are the brave Butters nobly hawking their wares. See how they’re brilliantly using homemade soy nut butter cookies to sell the magazine? You just wish your editors were as creative and clever as our editors.

After taking some of the best showers of our entire lives, the Butters, Terra, and I did things like roll coolers full of questionable lemonade down the street in preparation for the Salon. It was great.

Several Dancers Core was being used by Dekalb Medical Center during the day, so we had some awfully chipper backdrops for the selling of the magazine at the salon. Those are three of our editors at the table, and a young man whose purpose was, as far as I can tell, to get Editor Sallie hummus.

Here’s one of the authors reading at the literary salon, which also had live bluegrass, delicious food, and Lain and I yelling things like–

“Oh man! Nothing would be better than owning a copy of this incredible literary magazine! Thank goodness we still have copies available for purchase!”

Subtlety is not our strength.

For the record, if you’re interested in purchasing your own copy of Soy Nut Butter, do let us know. We still have copies available, and we realize that not all of you were able to come to the festival. While there are very few good excuses for that, color us enablers.

Decatur Book Festival in Pictures, Part One

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As previously noted several times, Team Wren’s Nest attended the Decatur Book Festival over the weekend.

Cool shirts, huh? And yes folks, Amelia really is that short.

When you get a booth at these festivals, it’s like 10′x10′, and kind of stuffy. So while everyone else is out enjoying the festival, you’re enjoying it from a prison cell.

This was more or less the view from our very own prison cell.

Things are just getting cranked up, and later in the afternoon the square was flooded with children, parents, and that guy who comes to all the festivals dressed in a hula skirt.

We made good use of our time, however, selling books and being cool, like we are.

(Outdoorsman Matt is doing most of the selling here.)

Meanwhile, we sent our storytellers out to ramble around and tell stories.

See Donald?

He looks like he’s choking himself, but it’s just a story, folks. During the morning, the shadiest spot was right here in front of Birdi’s. Everyone who had been walking along the shops on the square stopped to hear Donald. It was great.

Later that afternoon, the sun went behind the trees, and Akbar found a better spot–

Either Akbar (standing) or Curtis (sitting, in the red shirt) would start telling stories with about two people listening. By the end, everyone had gathered around.

Sure, the Decatur Book Festival is all about books. But even more so, it’s about telling stories. I’m glad we could take part. By the way, if you missed the festival, you can catch clips of our storytellers on the Wren’s Nest main page, just so we’re all up to speed.

More pictures are on the way, but in the mean time if you want to read more about the festival, check out Decatur Beth’s Cup of Coffey Blog or read about Tim’s experience at Baby Got Books.

Go, Mordecai!

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“He could destroy us! We would be blind, with holes in our shoulders!”

“Look how ominous he is. Just biding his time, waiting to kill. I wish he were whistling.”

“His legs are as thick as my wrists!”

“Do you think when he was born he realized what he was and just said ‘YESSSSS.’ ?”

Were these comments made about Joel Chandler Harris, dear reader? Of course not, don’t be stupid.

But they were made about one of his home’s recent visitors, a terrifying hawk. According to an eye witness (Lain) his wings were “the span of a Cadillac”.

While we may be prone to exaggeration here at the Wren’s Nest, this much is true: there was a hawk, it was outside, and Lain and I watched it stalk the most stupid/thrill seeking squirrel of all time. For 15 minutes.

The Decatur Book Festival Post(s) will be yours soon, but with all this excitement, how can you possibly expect us to blog?! Wait.

Irresponsibility and Google Successes

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As usual, I’ve jumped the gun.

Not only did I break Amelia’s camera several weeks ago, but I also left the one we procured for the Decatur Book Festival …elsewhere.*

Perhaps it’ll be located by tomorrow? At any rate, no pictures or snarky commentary today.

In other news, one of my predictions from long ago finally came true. We have shot to the (well, near the) top of the Google charts if you enter the query wren’s nest.

Take that, House Wren Nest Box Plans! Might this have something to do with the fact that I met a Googler the other day?

If you query the wren’s nest we even jump up a spot.

You can even try it out for yourself! Clearly, nothing has ever been more exciting. Nothing except the blog posts tomorrow!

*How is an executive director of anything allowed to retain the post if s/he is not responsible enough to hold on to a camera? Looks like my board finally needs to face the tough questions.

Decatur Book Festival Wrap Up

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For those of you who missed the Decatur Book Festival this weekend, that’s too bad. It was off the proverbial chain.

The Wren’s Nest had a lot going on, so stay tuned to this very blog tomorrow. We’ll update with several posts, chock-full of pictures and snarky commentary.

Nevermind that the day after Labor Day is like the worst one ever labor-wise. We’ve got you covered.