Jamtastic times are ahead. But wait, there’s more

If you are smart, you have already bought your FestieBestie tickets and pulled out your graph paper or some fancy scheduling app and picked your lineups for this weekend and the Bragg Jam Concert Crawl.

And while it’s a high point of the year, I know that like most bachelor parties, mud runs and TV series premieres, there will be people who can’t hang for the whole time. That said, here are my suggestions for other things to do this weekend before, during and after the Concert Crawl.

You can’t appreciate the heat of the summer without appreciating two other things – air conditioning and cold beer. Well, guess who has both. The Macon Beer Co. The rustic brewing location has upgraded its taproom, and the air is blow’n and the pints are flow’n on Saturdays. Look for the new sign!

Brunch, brunch and brunch. While I am a big fan of a post-concert Waffle House, I have to highlight the opportunities that abound downtown after the party winds down. You can’t go wrong with Dovetail’s ambiance and Fried Chicken Benedict, Piedmont’s crazy biscuit offerings, and there’s always the breakfast of champions … pizza. Doughboy Pizza will be serving up $8 bottomless mimosas, pancakes and more.

Keep the music going. While Pandora, Spotify and YouTube will satisfy your on-demand music needs, there is nothing like live music. This town knows it, and that’s why we capitalize on the history and the demand. If you need to unwind to some cool tunes in the heat of the night, look no farther than the Douglass Theatre Sunday at 7 p.m.

Nothing says summer like water. Get to the lake, co-opt a friend’s pool or head to the Sandy Beach Water Park. Options abound at Tobo, from the lazy river to the wave pool, there is something for everyone in your group. For the more adventurous, I suggest heading to the river and relaxing with your toes in the chilly water of the Ocmulgee. Invest in some equipment from Academy or Dick’s or contact Ocmulgee Outdoor Expeditions or Macon Outfitters. Both run services during the weekend at Amerson River Park.

Have a backup plan. If it rains, I have a ton of stuff queued up in Netflix and Amazon, but I might sneak out to a matinee before the shows Saturday evening. “War for the Plant of the Apes“ is out. You’ve got to love great sci-fi digital cinematography.

There you have it. My weekend fillers. If you want to get the inside scoop on the venues I will be attending or bands I will be grooving to, you will have to hunt me down on Cherry. I can be convinced to let you peak at my schedule, … but the first round is on you.

This story was originally published July 26, 2017 at 12:43 PM with the headline "Jamtastic times are ahead. But wait, there’s more."