Archive for the ‘Victorious!’ Category

Wren’s Nest Fest 2010: Success!

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Wren’s Nest Fest was this past Friday, June 11th, and I think the best word to describe it would be “bonkers.”

This is not because of the volunteers (hard-working and wonderful) –

nor the attractions (please — like miniature farm animals even know how to do anything besides be incredible) –

nor the entertainment (our clown also provides sno-cones and popcorn — it’s fool-proof).

Nope, this year was bonkers because we had a whopping 750 attendees.  You know how many that is?  A MILLION.

(Oh, you think that sentence didn’t make sense?  Try entertaining 750 people for 5 hours, including a woman who insists you bring in police to ensure no one cuts in line for lunch.  She is firmly holding your wrist the entire time.  Now you make your brain work.  I thought so.)

Each year, Wren’s Nest is this amazing combination of community support, gleeful small children, and fun times, with a healthy smattering of “you’re kidding me.”  In short, it earns one of the best naps of the year, period.  I might still be napping — I’m not sure.

Thanks again to everyone who helped out this year — we very literally could not do it without you.  Check out the pictures if you’ve got a minute.

KIPP STRIVE and the Wren’s Nest — The Fun Has Begun

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Yesterday was the very first day of the new writing program we’re doing with KIPP STRIVE Academy, and dare I say it went beautifully.  But before I get into that, some details to fill you in about what’s happened since we first introduced the program.

• We’re lucky enough to have friends in some high (internet) places, so the word spread quickly about the opportunity.  (See: phew!)  We’ve ended up with 16 volunteers to pair with 16 fifth grade students.

• Most volunteers are writers by profession, with a huge variety of specialties represented.  Journalists, novelists, legal writers, jacks-of-all-trades — you name it, we’ve got it.

• We had a couple of orientation sessions to meet the KIPP STRIVE staff members (Hi John!  Hi Ed!) we’ll be working with and to answer questions about the program.  Since Lain and I were involved, beer was served.

• Oh, and most importantly, the Kim King Foundation has graciously funded our entire project.  How cool is that?

Which brings us to yesterday.  The writers arrived at KIPP STRIVE — located at the old J. C. Harris Elementary building, fittingly enough — excited and confused about how to enter the building.

The answer to that question was, for the record, “through the door.”

Once we got over that hurdle, everyone received their space-age visitor pass and hopped over to meet the students.

For the tenure of the program, each adult/mentor/volunteer (still working on the language there) will be paired up with a student, and through these partnerships a beautiful story will emerge.  Or at least a story with correct grammar.  Needless to say, meeting partners was a big deal.

And y’all, boy howdy are the KIPP STRIVE kids awesome.  We had been reassured all the students would be enthusiastic, well-behaved, and eager to write, but “charming as all get up” totally should have been included.

At least one of our volunteers was pleased with the experience:

We did some little getting-to-know-you activities as documented by volunteer Jamie over at Chronicle’s blog.  Among other things, we found out that one student’s nickname is “Chalupa” and that the song “TiK ToK” by Ke$ha had few supporters in the room.

All in all, a successful meet-and-greet.  Nobody cried, and I don’t think there was one disappointed person on either side (though feel free to correct me, dream-crushers).

So yay!  Hopefully this means that I won’t spend next Tuesday with so much nervous energy I can’t pick up the phone on the first try.  No promises, though.

And, of course, thank you so much to all of our volunteers — we very literally could not do it without you.

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

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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!

Catching Up With Wayfarer’s Diary

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Good news!  Since our last update, where we asked you to vote on a cover, the Wren’s Nest Publishing Co. has been moving forward at a clipped pace.

First: in a 4 to 3 vote, Lauren Lee‘s cover was chosen for the journal.  Huzzah!

Congrats to those of you who feel your voices were heard.  To the rest of you: nuts!  And to Lucy Inman: thanks for ensuring it was a tight race!

While you were holding your breath for the cover results, the students:

• chose their favorite 32(!) pieces to include in the journal
• edited them (or didn’t touch them at all, in many cases) to perfection
• created a lovely layout plan for the journal
• became unpleasantly close with InDesign
• had an epic 8-hour meeting that stretched until midnight to finish Wayfarer’s Diary by the deadline

Many a hump has been busted, I tell you what.

The journal will, of course, be sold at the Decatur Book Festival over Labor Day Weekend.  You’ll be able to pick it up at the Wren’s Nest booth, where Lain and I will be camped out, sweaty and drinking beer, or from the editors themselves, who will be hawking their wares around the festival.  I don’t want to spread rumors, but there’s word of a banana costume.  (And, subsequently, a promise of heatstroke.)

Hope to see you there!

An Article on The Wren’s Nest Won An Award — It’s About Damn Time

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Did you know that Rachael Maddux won the Magazine Association of the Southeast’s 2009 Silver GAMMA award for Best Feature with her article on The Wren’s Nest?

Neither did we.  Read the article — Dummies in the Attic — to relive the magic, Paste Magazine July ’08 style.  I’m not going to say a great writer is nothing without a great subject, but I sure am going to plant the notion.

Rachael’s (undoubtedly impressive) certificate of achievement was not highlighted during our recent tour, for reasons I do not understand.   Rachael and her modesty are the worst. I mean, best!  (I mean worst.)

Ravinia Club Fundraiser Tomorrow, Proudly Serving Wren’s Nest Libations!

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Way back in February we presented a contest — name a Wren’s Nest themed adult beverage and win a bag of… things. To say the very least, it went well.

And now — well, tomorrow from 5:30pm – 8pm to be exact — the inspiration for this contest is upon us: the Wren’s Nest fundraiser hosted by the Ravinia Club.  All proceeds from the (cash) bar on the evening’s featured specialty drink benefit the Wren’s Nest.  Heard of it?

Now, before I get to the drink-christening, allow me to convince you to join us at the Ravinia Club:

• Everyone is welcome!  What a nice sentiment!
• Usually when you toast the Wren’s Nest, people have no idea what you’re talking about.  Tomorrow you’ll be in knowing company.
• I bet you love prizes.  You’ll find tomorrow’s raffle — fine wines, tickets to sporting events, massage gift certificates and more — so delightful.
• Wren’s Nest Rambler Akbar Imhotep will be spinning yarns throughout the evening.  If you haven’t seen Akbar yet, now is the time to hang your head in shame.
• Complimentary hors d’oeuvres mean you can stuff your face while pretending to be super classy.  At least that’s what I’ll be doing.

Are you sold yet?  I hope so.  You don’t even need to buy tickets; you can just show up and enjoy a…

Marga-Remus!

You may also enjoy 3 – 8 of them.

Yep, it’s a margarita, which our inside sources tell us the club makes deliciously.  It also has “Remus” in the name, which makes it themed and super clever.

So, we’ll see you there, right?  Here’s a map to the Ravinia Club.  Join us at 5:30 – 8 pm.

Any questions?  Leave ‘em in the comments.

Wren’s Nest Conservation Project – Before and After Exterior Photos

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You can stop holding your breath now.

We’ve posted before and after photos of the Wren’s Nest exterior conservation efforts.  There are a whopping 59 in all.

Also, check out Lain’s skills with Photoshop Pixelmator –

It’s like a visual time machine.

There are captions underneath each photo in the album, and remember — you do not need a Facebook account to view the photos.  (However, if your place of work has blocked Facebook, you’ll probably have to wait until you get home to see our progress.  Mom.)

Enjoy!

Previously — Interior Before and After Photos

Disney to Release Song of the South on Blu-ray and DVD in 2009

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Disney has decided to release the film Song of the South to Blu-ray and DVD later this year.  After waiting over twenty years since it’s last theatrical release, this is enormous news.

Not surprisingly, the decision came after the recent Disney shareholder meeting.  Expect the official announcement within the next two weeks or so.

Releasing Song of the South is a topic that is often mentioned, but until now has never been taken seriously by the company.  Two years ago there was promising discussion at the same meeting by CEO Robert Iger, but nothing came of it.

Not so in 2009!

We’re privy to this information now because one of the shareholders (and a friend of the Nest) thought we should know in advance in order to prepare ourselves.  I’m considering buying a phone headset to avoid answering-elbow.

This should be a marketing coup for Disney.  As we’ve mentioned here time and time again, there’s an unquestionable demand for the movie, and absence has made the heart grow fonder for many fans and potential consumers, I’m sure.

Nevertheless, the issues that made Disney hesitant to release the film in the first place still stand.  It will be very, very interesting to see the ensuing marketing campaign.  I’m putting my money on a healthy dose of nostalgia with just a pinch of “Look!  We’ve entered a new (racial) era!  Thanks, President Obama!”  Or, you know, not saying anything while quietly raking in the money.

As for our day-to-day lives at the Wren’s Nest, we’ll just have to wait and see what happens.  Sure, it means I’ll be more helpful to blue hairs who call looking for the movie (one caller recently assured me she “knew the number for eBay”), but as far as royalties go, we can’t expect anything.  Stinks, right?

In fact, I’m a little fearful that the more widespread the movie, the more people might get the priorities of our museum and the movie confused.  Folks are known to do that sort of thing. We do have a history to maintain, after all.

On the other hand, the increased visibility could be HUGE for us.  As far as I’m concerned, people can visit the museum for whatever reason they want.  If they come in because they think we give tours with bluebirds on our shoulders, fine by me!  Though they will be a touch disappointed, methinks.

Either way, we can cross our fingers and hope that, just like its theatrical release in 1946, Song of the South’s marketing will include the Wren’s Nest, and that the Brer Rabbit stories will come to the foreground once again.  We’ll keep you updated!

My oh my what a wonderful day!

It’s Super Huge Update Time

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I hope you’re sitting down.

Comfy?   Not near anything easily spilled by flailing limbs?  Good.

Ready yourself!

THE POTATO FARMERS CANCELED!

Weight on shoulders = lifted.

For those of you who have no idea what I’m talking about, a bit of background.  Three cheers for it all working out!

Wren’s Nest Branding Gets Stampy*

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We have a Wren’s Nest stamp!  This is an exciting, exciting day.

It’s the little things, folks.

I’ll let you know when our Wren’s Nest branding iron comes in.  I kid, I kid.  We would never brand an animal.  Not until we have a full herd, anyhow.

*No, not this Stampy.  Though I wish.