AFTER HOURS: Shopping tips for elves
Kirk West has chronicled on film the notorious and the famous in the music world for more than 40 years, hooked on music and photography from the time he took his camera to a Frank Zappa concert in Chicago when he was 18.
His 20 years as tour manager for the Allman Brothers Band was the vantage point for recording the lives of giants in the music industry. Although he no longer tours with the band, he has finely honed his talent behind the lens and now displays his archived collection of photographs in Gallery West, owned by West and his wife, Kirsten, on Third Street.
There were rumors of a book, devoted to photographs of the Allman Brothers, beginning last spring. However, fans had to wait a while for the handsome table top publication, "Les Brers -- Kirk West's Photographic Journey with the Brothers," to hit the book stores.
On Dec. 4, West debuted "Les Brers" at the gallery with a limited supply that disappeared in one evening, after he chatted about his history with the "brothers" and autographed each book for happy owners of the first edition.
Although the book is available in online book stores, a second shipment was expected in the gallery this week. What a treasure for a generation that grew up with the band and still sells out concerts all over the country.
If the Allman Brothers book does not fit the bill for a special gift, back stage and on stage prints of artists of all genres are available for purchase in the gallery -- even those who are legends long after their demise, including Tammy Wynette and George Jones or June Carter and Johnny Cash.
If you haven't before, it is time to explore the gallery and pick up a unique gift for that hard-to-buy-for person on your list.
AN EMPORIUM OPENS IN DOWNTOWN
Native Maconite Jean Bragg hit the ground running when she returned to her hometown from New Orleans, another city steeped in history, and embraced the restoration of Macon's downtown to its former bustling business center.
After opening Travis Jean Gallery in 2014, Bragg has hosted parties, political campaign launches, functions for nonprofits and vigorously promoted downtown living and shopping. On December's First Friday, the adjoining storefront opened as Travis Jean Emporium, stocked with Southern made candies, Georgia grown pecans, Windham Designs jewelry, stationery, fruit-infused balsamic vinegar, even pink pickles!
Macon's own Crown Candy is part of the diverse inventory which could be used in the custom, elegant gift baskets created by the staff at this latest addition to a burgeoning commercial district.
NURTURING FUTURE LEADERS
On Monday, the Museum of Arts and Sciences hosted a Christmas party for Burdell Hunt Elementary School, sponsored each year by the Macon Rotary Club. The children received new backpacks full of gifts and school supplies and made ornaments to take home while having lunch with the Rotarians.
This year, the children and their hosts did not have to go a long way for a Nu-Way -- Spyros Dermatas and his team from the iconic restaurant served up chili dogs, slaw dogs and hamburgers with all the trimmings.
President of the Macon Rotary Club, Robbo Hatcher, praised the school for embracing the "Leader in Me" initiative, funded at Burdell Hunt this year by the Rotarians. The students enthusiastically shared the seven habits of effective leaders, which reflect the philosophy of the program -- responsibility, goal setting and making education a priority to develop a child's full potential.
CELEBRATING THEATER AT HAY HOUSE
Actors from Theatre Macon staged portions of their play, "A Christmas Story: the Musical," on Wednesday night for the Hay House Gala, a celebration including a cocktail buffet and a tour of the Italianate mansion, resplendent in holiday decorations.
The seasonal play, which sold out for all performances in the theater from Dec. 4-13, featured adults and children dressed in period costumes, singing musical adaptations from the original story, accompanied by Jim Penndorf, music director, on piano and David Lintz on guitar.
Rachel Chabot, mezzo soprano, and Patrick Cheek, tenor, had the lead roles, upstaged in the end by Robert McCullers as St. Nicholas. Cast member Natasha Robinson, boasting a jaunty hat, voiced the feelings of the cast, all of whom looked forward to an encore opportunity at Hay House as icing on the cake of a fun-filled production.
Following the performance, Theatre Macon director Jim Crisp introduced the theater's cabaret singers to whet the appetites of the audience for "A Christmas Cabaret," which opened Thursday in the theater and closes today with a performance at 2:30 p.m. Hay House is open for Christmas tours through Dec. 31, except on Christmas Day. Call 478-742-8155 for more information.
Katherine Walden is a freelance writer and interior designer in Macon. Contact her at 478-742-2224 or kwaldenint@aol.com.
This story was originally published December 19, 2015 at 8:18 PM with the headline "AFTER HOURS: Shopping tips for elves ."