Archive for the ‘Southern Literary Trail’ Category
Join Bruce Bickley and the Wren’s Nest for Uncle Remus Night
This Thursday — that’s March 19th — at 7:15 pm you will be at the Decatur Library for Uncle Remus Night. Why?
Because Daren Wang of the Decatur Book Festival told you to attend, on WABE’s City Cafe no less. Listen here.
Dr. Bruce Bickley, an authority on Joel Chandler Harris from Florida State University, will give his talk: “Joel Chandler Harris’s Uncle Remus Tales on the Cultural Big Road.” According to the Georgia Center for the Book website, I will have a few things to say too. Gulp.
Also, I am excited to announce that we have permission to display an original, unpublished, and rarely-before-seen Uncle Remus depicted by Norman Rockwell in oil and charcoal.
It’s on loan from a donor. I will do my best not to drop it.
Other reasons to attend:
- The talk is free.
- I’ll be there stuttering, selling books, giving out free tickets, and perhaps even wearing a collared shirt.
This event is our main contribution to the Southern Literary Trail, and we couldn’t have done it without partnering with the Georgia Center for the Book. Thanks, y’all, and please spread the word.
Categories: Atlanta, Decatur Book Festival, Events, Shameless Promotion, Southern Literary Trail, Uncle Remus |
The Asian Cajuns, Amelia, and Lain Hike the Beltline
Sure, the Wren’s Nest was open (and free to the public!) this Saturday for Phoenix Flies and the Southern Literary Trail. It’ll be free next Saturday and Sunday, too.
But that doesn’t mean Amelia and I enjoy working on both Saturdays and Sundays. No sir.
So, this Saturday we took a little staff field trip with our friends Lauren, Catherine, and Matt. We walked 7 miles of the Beltline, one of the largest urban renewal projects in the country.
The Beltline will ultimately be a 22 mile ring of transit, parks, and trails around Atlanta. Right now, however, it’s mostly an abandoned rail corridor. Lauren and Catherine have pictures on their blog, as does Urban Hiking Atlanta, so I’ll leave most of the explanation to them.
The Beltline is significant to the Wren’s Nest for two main reasons:
- It runs just a few blocks from here, and is one of the few places to have already broke ground.
- It is and will continue to encourage historic preservation in Atlanta.
I’m also excited that the staff of the Wren’s Nest will be a bike or one-seat train ride away from the Carter Center, the MLK birth home, or Piedmont Park. Imagine the new lunch options!
If you’re interested in walking the Beltline, subscribe to Urban Hiking Atlanta or sign up for the Wonderroot e-newsletter.
(h/t, weirdly enough, to Decatur Metro who covered our story faster than I could)
Categories: Atlanta, Historic Preservation, Kudzu and other bizarre plants, Phoenix Flies, Southern Literary Trail, The Beltline |
Southern Literary Trail Website is Up
… and awesome. Take a gander for yourself.
We’ve told you about the Southern Literary Trail before, so you surely recall that we’re jazzed to be included. But man alive, I didn’t expect to be so quickly inspired to pack up the ol’ jalopy and hit the road.
But please, someone else drive- I’ve got some reading to do.
Categories: Shameless Promotion, Southern Literary Trail, Trail Blazin' |
Southern Literary Trail Logo Debuts
Thoughts?
I like the thumb-printedness of it.
What is the Southern Literary Trail, you ask?
It’s a formal connection of 20th century literary sites and homes from Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia. Chances are you probably wouldn’t pick up the trail and go site to site. It’s more of an association of literary places that recognize their common themes and traditions.
The plan, for now, is a big celebration in March 2009, with all sorts of literary events going on simultaneously across the three states.
Previously: Washington Post–We Are Finally Coming to Claim Our Writers, The Wren’s Nest: Part of the Southern Literary Trail?
Categories: Marketing Tricks, Southern Literary Trail |
Savannah is the only thing more fun than the Wren’s Nest
While some people find Savannah delightful for all its neat public squares, or its prime riverfront location, or all the ghost-lore that accompanies just about everything, I find it so engaging because it’s where Joel Chandler Harris met his wife, Esther LaRose.
Stop snickering.
(Not here, but let’s pretend.)
Lain and I traveled to Savannah for the Savannah Book Festival, which was a delight. (If you ask nicely, maybe we’ll even tell you which books we bought.) There were plenty of signs of JCH in Savannah — look:
For example, an actual sign.
Or this familiar fella given an illegal home on the side of a information booth (the old gum is the artist’s flourish, methinks).
Um, this is awkward, but… it’s pronounced “Brer”.
We also happened upon the childhood home of Flannery O’Connor, another member of the Southern Literary Trail family.
This is Flannery’s abode, where they rent rooms out to, you know, live in. What if you were like, “Oh yeah, we can totally watch the game at my place. The entry fee is $5, though.”
She got a sign, too.
Neat thing: the docent at the Flannery O’Connor home hails from beautiful Bloomington, IN and majored in Comparative Literature (?!) at Indiana University. Sound familiar?
The point of this all is: you should go to Savannah. It is so beautiful and truly unlike any other city I’ve ever visited. Here are a few more photos to whet your palate.
Madison square, looking triumphant.
The marsh where we stayed, about 20 miles outside of downtown Savannah. Much thanks to the wonderful Cushing family for letting us trash their marsh house.
Forsyth Square. It’s not even springtime yet, and look how lovely it is!
Sigh. I want to go back.
Categories: Birds of a feather, Historic Preservation, Shirking Responsibility, Southern Literary Trail |
The Wren’s Nest Is Officially Part of the Southern Literary Trail
It’s official. We’re in.
Yup, the rumors were true. Maybe we can help out with their website, too.
Wren’s Nest Part of the Southern Literary Trail?
I’d rather not jinx anything, but the Wren’s Nest may very well sneak into the fledgling and soon-to-be-awesome Southern Literary Trail.
Their website right now looks a little like the Wren’s Nest’s website, stylistically speaking, circa this time last year.
That is to say, um, spartan.
The idea for the trail centers around linking 20th century southern writers through themes, geography, and–hopefully–tourist dollars. Since Joel Chandler Harris was indeed alive and publishing in the 20th century, I say count it! After all, the transformation of writing in Georgia from Br’er Rabbit to The Color Purple is pretty significant if I do say so myself.
Here’s (a little) background on the Southern Literary Trail. Of course, more information will be posted here as it develops.
Now, if only someone would get my Civil War to Civil Rights Trail idea off the ground.
I’m looking at you, CCHRP.
Or maybe you, Amelia Trace. You’re practically synonymous with ATL.