Archive for the ‘Fame and Fortune’ Category

Mamapedia Is Making The Wren’s Nest Look Cheap

---

Mamapedia, a Groupon-esque site for family friendly deals, is featuring the Wren’s Nest this week.

$6 will get you admission for two humans, any combination.  This is what we in the biz call “a steal.”

And remember! You’re not just buying your pass to Atlanta history. You’re also visiting a “must-see in Atlanta” as designated by Glamour Magazine’s Sex and Relationships blog. Because of course.

Thanks, Mamapedia!  And thanks for mentioning us to Glamour, Asian Cajuns!

The Kids Are Alright — Tune In This Saturday at 9am on AM1690!

---

I’m sorry, I shouldn’t make demands of you like that without the backstory.  I just get too excited sometimes!

This upcoming Saturday The Kids Are Alright program (AM 1690) will be featuring none other than esteemed executive director/voiceover enthusiast Lain Shakespeare.

Even better (unless you’re just into Lain’s sonorous voice — then there is nothing better), the show will have a theme: Brer Rabbit!  Well, Brer, other rabbits, and a touch of “wait a sec — animals can talk?”

The previously lauded Huckleberry Hound album is scheduled to make an appearance, as well as Wren’s Nest Staff Favorite Van Dyke Park’s “Jump!” and none other than “Little Bunny Foo Foo” (of course).

Even more excitingly, Akbar will tell a few stories on the air, which are bound to be excellent.  How do I know?  Because Akbar is always excellent.

AM1690  – The Voice of the Arts — is kindly featuring us to help promote Wren’s Nest Fest, which is next Friday, June 11th.  Please tune in and support not only Lain and the Nest, but the kind folks who were generous and thoughtful enough to include us.  Thanks!

ps- This isn’t Lain’s first rodeo.  Remember when he was talking about Song of the South‘s anniversary on WABE‘s City Cafe with John Lemley?

Georgia Traveler Features the Wren’s Nest, Amelia, and Curtis

---

Georgia Traveler, everyone’s favorite travel show not starring Michael Palin Anthony Bourdain Rick Steves, stopped by the Wren’s Nest a few months back for a segment on their “Book Tour” episode.

Amelia did most of the talking:

Curtis did most of the storytelling:

And Georgia Traveler did a bang-up job.  Thank you, Georgia Traveler! Watch the entire episode online, here (just click on the “Watch” icon next to the page title).

Our segment starts about 4 minutes in, but the whole episode is worth your time.  They stop by the Uncle Remus Museum, Flannery O’Connor’s Andalusia, the Margaret Mitchell House, and the Grit.

P.S.  Do you know how hard it is to find a screen grab where people don’t look like they’re drooling?  It’s medium-hard!

Happy (Official) Joel Chandler Harris Day!

---

Today would have been Joel Chandler Harris‘ 164th birthday if he had pledged his soul to darkness in favor of eternal life.  But he didn’t!

Nope, instead he passed away in 1908 at the realistic age of 63.

While we at the Wren’s Nest celebrate Joel Chandler Harris and his legacy every day (well, maybe not Sundays and Mondays), December 9th is the day all Georgians are required, by law, to bow down to JCH’s awesomeness.  That’s my interpretation, anyhow.

You see, in 1958 the Governor of Georgia, Marvin Griffin, formally decreed December 9th “Joel Chandler Harris Day” in Georgia.  The official proclamation is below (remember, you can click on the picture for a closer look).

You’ll note that citizens were urged to “participate in this occasion.”  While I’m not quite sure what means exactly, I’m sure if you wrote a collection of folktales cherished by generation upon generation the world over, that would count.

I’m participating and celebrating by coming to work and writing this blog post.  Lain is celebrating by being in a meeting all day.  What are you doing to participate in Joel Chandler Harris Day, the biggest of all the December holidays?

Victorian Christmas Addendum — Do You Know How to Work a Camera Effectively?

---

You may have noted in my last post that I said the house never looks as good as it does at Victorian Christmas.  You may have also noticed that the picture attached could be best described as “craptacular.”

For reasons unknown, we just don’t have any great pictures of the house all dandified in Christmas garb.

Instead, we have these.  Man, we’re terrible!

But wait — are you also terrible?  No?  You say you object to being called terrible because you are, in fact, actually good?  I’m not convinced.

I do know how you can prove it, however.

You should come take pictures at the Wren’s Nest, during Victorian Christmas.  Then, when you send them to us, we’ll say things like, “This is fantastic!” or, at the other end of the spectrum, “This reminds me of our old pictures.”

If we’re thoroughly convinced of your talent, we’ll offer you a fine looking t-shirt in exchange for your photos.  We may even use a sharpie to write “Wren’s Nest Official Photographer” on the back.  Everyone wins.

What do you say?

Atlanta Business Chronicle’s 2009 40 Under 40 — Lain Made the Cut!

---

For some reason, people really like Lain.  Last night the Atlanta Business Chronicle even gave him an award, just for being younger than 40.  I think.  I wasn’t really paying attention.

Really, Lain won one of the coveted 40 Under 40 Up and Comers awards.  There were over 400 submissions.  I think it’s fairly obvious how many folks made the cut.   The winners weren’t ranked, though Lain did win the award for “Only Person to Submit a Head Shot in Which They Are Wearing a T-Shirt.”  Highly coveted.

This is especially noteworthy because Lain, former English major, got a C- in Economics.  Hopefully that factoid made the print edition, which is on newsstands today.  Sidenote: Lain was also probably the only winner when, speaking about buying the paper, remarked, “It’s really expensive — like, $2.00 a copy.”

Now, while it’s certainly special that Lain was inducted into a select group of Atlanta business types “to watch,” the real achievement of the evening was the gift bag.  For real, check out the main prize:

IT’S A PADDED CALCULATOR!  No more bruising your fingers on the tough plastic of lesser models, no sir!  That’s what I look like full of love, for the record.

But lo, that’s not all.  Let’s take a look inside, shall we?

Post-its!  In colors!  And in the shape of arrows!  I am going to point to more stuff in the next month than anyone ever thought possible, so help me JCH.  Yay to Lain and yay to gift bags!

Atlanta Magazine Features The Wren’s Nest

---

Find us in the October issue of Atlanta Magazine! We’re in between the angry letters about the Real Housewives of Atlanta and a feature about the director of the CDC.

Or, be our guest and check out the article online.

The print edition has a few more photos by Jamey Guy (awesome dude).

What do you think about the article?

The Wren’s Nest and The Allman Brothers Band’s “Big House” — A Side-by-Side Comparison

---

The AJC recently reported that the Allman Brother’s “Big House,” where they recorded many of their most memorable and influential songs, will open as a (house) museum this December.

Not only do we look forward to welcoming the Big House into the club of Georgia landmarks, but we also look forward to teaching them the club password and handshake.

In the meantime, let me highlight some of the similarities between us and them –

• “The Big House” is a nickname the band members gave the house based on its size.  It’s big, you see.
• “The Wren’s Nest” is a nickname the Harris family gave the house because there were some birds there.

• The Big House is planning to present Duane Allman’s bedroom as it looked when he died in 1971.  Expect some serious funk action.
• The Wren’s Nest has preserved Joel Chandler Harris’ bedroom just as it was since his death in 1908.  Expect some serious spittoon and gourd action.

• The Big House will have a bandstand outside for shows and concerts.
• The Wren’s Nest has a concrete stage from the 1920s for children and their garbled singing needs.

• Members of the Allman Brothers Band would often stop by The Big House for a trip down memory lane.
• Old ladies stop by The Wren’s Nest to tell us how awful our “new” (21 years old) paint colors look.

• Some pretty awesome and influential art was created at The Big House.  You know, about Midnight Riders.
• Some pretty awesome and influential art was created at the Wren’s Nest.  You know, about rabbits.

Overall, the Big House looks pretty neat, and I’m excited to visit when it isn’t 106 degrees in Macon.  I will not arrive by motorcycle.  Thank you.

Wren’s Nest Visitor Drops Brer Rabbit Album With Dialect

---

Today a gentleman visiting from California stopped in for our Buy-1-Get-1-Free Spring Break (Woo!) Storytelling Extravaganza.  Naturally, he was delighted.

After the tour, he handed me a CD’s worth of Brer Rabbit stories that he recorded. Here, take a listen –

Stephen Allman – The Wonderful Tar-Baby Story

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

I was surprised to find out that Stephen isn’t a professional storyteller.  The production quality is great, he has a wonderful voice, and he can tell a good story.  The folks that heard his versions here were disappointed he didn’t have CDs for sale.

Stephen was struck by the Brer Rabbit stories he heard as a child, often told to him in Gullah or Geechee dialects.  So unlike our storytellers, Stephen has employed dialect in these versions, like Joel Chandler Harris did when originally recorded the stories.

To some, this is the most controversial aspect of Harris’s work.

The argument goes something like this — Harris’s use of dialect is insulting and stereotypical, especially from someone who has essentially hijacked and homogenized an important portion of African-American culture.  He stinks.

Stephen Allman – The Briar Patch

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

To others, employing dialect is one of the most important parts of Harris’s work.

Their argument goes like this — Harris carefully preserved a vital part of culture, speech, and history, while also becoming one of the first Americans to present black culture to a wide audience with respect.  He should have a halo when you picture him.

What do you think of Stephen’s stories?  Think we should sell his CD at the Wren’s Nest?

What about the dialect in the stories?  Does it make you smile?  Does it make you cringe?

Does it matter that Stephen is white?  Would your perception be different if he were black?  Is the presentation politically correct or politically incorrect?  Does that matter?

Previously:

• Is Uncle Remus Racist?
• Gullah Geechee in the Economist and the Super Bowl Pandas

Send in Your Brer Rabbit Reviews, Children!

---

Kottke.org, one of my favorite blogs, recently featured The Spaghetti Book Club, a website devoted to “Book Reviews By Kids For Kids.”  As you may have guessed, the reviews are hilarious and awesome.

For example, one of my favorite books when I was little (I’m very tall now) was Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.  Check out the review!  You’re right, J.D. Age 7, it is funny to see food falling from the sky!

The Berenstain Bears and Too Much Junk Food was also a favorite (apparently I only liked books about food) and boy, does Kevin S. capture the magic! Pants ripping does a favorite character make, I tell you what.

The only problem with this goldmine?  No Brer Rabbit stories!  As the Spaghetti reviewers would say, what the heck?!

Dear reader, let’s change this — together.

The Wren’s Nest is looking for reviews of Brer Rabbit stories and books from children ages 9 and under.

For their trouble, we’ll send them a Wren’s Nest t-shirt AND feature their review on our website.  In short, we will make them both stylish and famous.  Pretty good, right?

You can send reviews via email to me at amelia@wrensnestonline.com, or just mail the whole shebang all old-fashioned-like to the Nest.  Pictures not only appreciated but cherished forever and always.