Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Duck and Herring Company Podcast, Sponsored by the Wren’s Nest
Posted by: lain // Category: Birds of a feather, Birds other than wrens, Sing Songery, Wren's Nest Publishing Co. // 3:12 pm
I got an email yesterday from the good folks at the Duck and Herring Company regarding their warm weather podcast.
You may recall that the Duck and Herring Company:
- helped out with the Wren’s Nest Publishing Company last summer
- recorded our theme song
Regarding the latter, I failed to ask them why exactly they recorded our theme song.
I mean, why wouldn’t they record our theme song? Or anyone, for that matter! In fact, I’m kinda surprised we don’t have more people sending us theme songs.
Anyway, turns out that the Wren’s Nest is the official sponsor of the Duck and Herring Company Podcast. Unrelated, turns out that the Duck and Herring Company Podcast is awesome.
What a coincidence!
Check out the entire podcast here: Duck and Herring Company Podcast.
Comments: 0Annual Wren’s Nest Concert — The Commodores?
Posted by: lain // Category: Birds other than wrens, Celebrity Requests, Future: fact or fiction, Good Questions, League of Decency, Sing Songery // 3:41 pm
Yesterday my advanced palate and I were interviewed about hot dogs for a column in Atlanta Intown, a monthly newspaper.
Weird? Maybe, but after I had my professional say about ice cream last month (third column, fifth row), I can see why they wanted me back.
Anyway, while we were grilling hot dogs in Piedmont Park, who strolls up but none other than Mr. William King, guitarist and trumpet guy for the Commodores.
This got me thinking.
Who should headline our annual fundraising concert?
Last year we had the League of Decency, a legendary Atlanta cover band that can really boogie. Near the end of the evening, the covered “Brick House” and things went, well, bananas. Was this some sort of sign that we should have the Commodores play “Brick House” the next year?
I can’t say.
Either way, if you’ve got requests for who should headline our concert, fire away.
Factors include–(a) how much it costs; (b) if the neighborhood can get down with it; (c) will folks drive here to see it; (d) if I like them or not; (e) do they bring the funk?
Comments: 7Wren’s Nest Crows Are Only Alive Because Nannie is Allowing It
Posted by: Amelia // Category: Birds other than wrens, Bravery, Really? // 9:45 am
Today’s Wren’s Nest Revelation:
Nannie can kills crows with a sling shot.
We have a giant crow that lives in the backyard. It’s loud and ominous. Nannie has said that she will bring out the slingshot if it harasses children at Wren’s Nest Fest, while Jeri repeatedly added “They’re scavengers, they’re scavengers” (the crows, not the children).
I’m not sure if Jeri and Nannie were having an actual conversation or just generally speaking about a similar topic, but they sure brought the point home: evil crows will not be tolerated at The Wren’s Nest (Fest).
So if the crows were holding you back, fear no more: the Wren’s Nest is safe!
Never a dull moment, folks.
Comments: 0Decatur Storytelling Festival Pictures and Recap
Posted by: Amelia // Category: Birds of a feather, Birds other than wrens, Events, Storytelling // 11:25 am
On Monday when I said I would cover the remainder of our weekend exploits “tomorrow”, I clearly meant, “the next day I work at the Nest, which will be Wednesday, because working part-time is great though unnecessarily confusing!”
Getting on with it, Lain and I set up at the Decatur Storytelling Festival Saturday, which the Wren’s Nest sort of sponsored–one of our storytellers, Donald, was the emcee, while Curtis, another Wren’s Nest Rambler, performed.
(Curtis with a great shirt.)
It was a really neat concept, with great attractions including the craziest balloon-animal-maker I have ever seen. Seriously. Skywriting planes made out of balloons?! I mostly stared at her in favor of talking to people.
(Not the balloon artist, but Queen Glitter was still worth a stare.)
The location was also very unique, though apparently not as unusual as Lain and I originally thought. It was held in the Decatur Cemetery (which is beautiful, p.s.) and as Donald’s white-folks-in-residence we discovered that “white people always want to tell stories in cemeteries”.
Is that on stuff white people like?
(Fowl, cemetery.)
But I’ll tell you this: no matter where they are, children will go ABSOLUTELY CRAZY upon seeing a giant Curious George mascot. We would hear a child gasp and look to see a poof of dust where the child had been. It was nuts.
(Hannah, Isaac, and C.G.)
There were also (both real and fake) ducks to chase, faces to be painted, and, you know, storytelling to watch… but mostly kids exclaimed “CURIOUS GEORGE! Mom, hold my bubbles!” and subsequently disappeared.
(Donald with the also-ran. Donald, Duck. Get it?)
The only downside to the whole event was the gross weather. Somehow, it was the coldest 66 degrees I’ve ever felt. It was damp, windy, and rain was threatening, which certainly affected attendance.
And our will to live. See:
Now, if you missed this storytelling event (and… you did), there’s another on the (immediate) horizon! Tonight Wordsmith’s is hosting Story-Time for Grownups (naughty?). While there won’t be any mascots (that we know of), there will be drinks. Success!
Comments: 1Spring has sprung at the Wren’s Nest!
Posted by: Amelia // Category: Birds other than wrens, Really?, Technological Advances // 1:21 pm
The sun is shining, flowers are sprouting up all over, and the birds are a-chirping.
Here’s one consequence Joel Chandler Harris didn’t have to worry about.
Note: the above damage occurred in the course of about 45 minutes. Awesome.
Comments: 2Victorian Christmas This Sunday at the Wren’s Nest
Posted by: lain // Category: Birds other than wrens, Events, Victorian Christmas // 1:49 pm
In case y’all were curious, the Wren’s Nest is hosting its annual Victorian Christmas party, this coming Sunday afternoon. What better day to celebrate than Joel Chandler Harris Day.
Look, it’s decreed by the governor. You’ve been urged to celebrate. Beseeched, even. Why not do so at the Wren’s Nest?*
We’ll have birthday cake, tours, storytelling, stuff for the kids, and more Victoriana than you’d ever hope to see.
And not only is it auspicious–did I also mention it’s free?
Nope, free!
Even more free than twenty-six little ones, and yet even more free than a dime-piece for the wee children. See you there!
*Your only reasonable excuse is that you’re bundled up with a Duck and Herring Pocket Field Guide, hot off the presses.
But more on them later. In the mean time, if you want to become their friend on MySpace**, you can do so here.
**The Wren’s Nest totally would be friends with the good ducks and herrings from Duck and Herring Co. on MySpace, but, um, the staff of the Wren’s Nest doesn’t know how to make a MySpace page.
Well, Miss Nannie might, but she’s not telling. Sigh.
Comments: 1Mostly ITP Podcast and Brer Rabbit Stories Online
Posted by: lain // Category: Birds other than wrens, Failed Attempts at Looking Reputable, Podcasts, Shameless Promotion, Storytelling // 11:11 am
Last week the good folks at the Georgia Podcast Network ambled on into the Wren’s Nest for a brief tour and a chat about blogging, podcasting, and being cool at a historical site in the 21st century.
Tune in here to hear me sound nervous on their show, Mostly ITP.
If you’re new to this site, this episode is a great intro to what the Wren’s Nest is, where we’ve been, and where we’re going. If you just enjoy hearing me squirm, this is also for you.
(Not actually taken at the Mostly ITP Podcast, but instead the Duck and Herring Podcast. You can tell by the fu manchu. More on them later this week.)
Props to GriftDrift, who alerted me to the podcast before I knew it was online.
Related, we were inspired by the Georgia Podcast Network’s audio interface, and put a couple complete audio stories online. Scroll on down to the bottom on the Stories page and listen to Miss Woodie tell my favorite story–Brer Rabbit Takes a Ride.
The stories are perfect for:
(a) teaching a classroom of first graders about trickster tales;
(b) taking a ten minute break from actual teaching;
(c) taking a ten minute break from just about anything;
(d) hearing the phrase “bodacious fib” in context.
Comments: 4Go, Mordecai!
Posted by: Amelia // Category: Birds of a feather, Birds other than wrens, Hunting!, Shirking Responsibility // 5:48 pm
“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.
Comments: 7Mighty Mouse!
Posted by: Amelia // Category: Birds other than wrens, Bravery // 8:04 am
We just saw this coming out of our trash can. It jumped! From the bottom! Into the air! Gack!
Note to all: when this happened, Lain pointed with one hand and pushed me in front of him with the other. He’s a brave man, that Shakespeare.
Comments: 4Mike Vick and the “Mistrust” of Black Atlanta
Posted by: lain // Category: Birds other than wrens, The Most Electrifying Athlete In Sports, West End // 9:34 am
Monday night espn.com posted a front page article–A History of Mistrust. It’s about Michael Vick, the city of Atlanta, and why many black Atlantans view the Mike Vick case as a racial indictment.
The staff at the Wren’s Nest got real excited about this. I wrote a lengthy blog post, Amelia and I had a shouting match about it, Nannie had to be restrained in her chair. It got ugly.
Anyway, it’s a great article, all about the history of Atlanta. And sometimes we at the Wren’s Nest fancy ourselves smack dab in the middle of that history, with a unique perspective to boot!
(Abernathy’s church is our next-door neighbor. That’s our tree!)
The article refers to the 1906 race riots, lynching reenactments, the Civil Rights movement, and the great racial divide in Atlanta today. Sounds like we’re not too far removed from Joel Chandler Harris’ Atlanta back in the day.
The article gets quite a bit right–the spoken geographic racial divide, the often unspoken (and oft-denied) fact that everything is about race, the greatness of Thumbs Up Diner.
As thorough as the article is, it isn’t perfect. The history of black and white in Atlanta is juxtaposed with the current black and white in Atlanta, when–the way I see it–this is more of a national issue. Had Barry Bonds played for the Braves, you better believe the press would have made this all about race in Atlanta.
(So who’s the lynch mob here? AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
While this issue in particular is indeed more national than local, Atlantans deal with (or ignore) smaller, similar racial issues like this one every day.
Look no further than the Wren’s Nest–we feel the racial divide in a profound way, and many outsiders I talk to often say “that side of town” the exact same way that some people whisper the word “black” when they’re talking about “black people.”
In fact, the Wren’s Nest (or West End) treatment isn’t so different from that of Michael Vick. Why doesn’t the Wren’s Nest see more visitation? In part because of–
- The sketchy history of the organization.
- The location in a predominantly African-American neighborhood.
- Stereotypes heightened by excessive media coverage.
I guess a website before May 2007 would have helped our cause–but public perception has already been decided. The Wren’s Nest and West End can only continue to do positive things, and the change in image will follow. I’m not sure if Michael Vick will be so lucky.
P.S. Why did ESPN use the word “mistrust” and not “distrust”? I’m no etymological dictionary, but the different prefixes seem to imply different things, and the former seems to question black Atlanta’s judgment, instead of a statement of fact. I’m just sayin’.
Comments: 6