Flurry of events, activities planned for November’s ‘First Friday’ in downtown Macon

There’s more live music downtown and around Macon these days, more normal activity at restaurants, in nightclubs and at those special events everyone was used to prior to the worst of COVID-19. Scheduling at galleries and theaters is getting closer to what it used to be and — all in all — the “new normal” is starting to look a bit more like the old normal.

There’s evidence of that this month and today, which is November’s First Friday.

And, surely you’ve noticed, temperatures are cooling and it’s feeling a lot more like fall.

“Any time we see a change in the weather like we are now we tend to see more people downtown,” said Emily Hopkins, director of place at NewTown Macon which is behind a lot of what happens on First Fridays and helps with the overall effort to make downtown a great place to be. “Of course, this time of year we see more people coming out who are thinking about Christmas, getting their shopping done and enjoying the holidays.”

While a lot of First Friday activities are grown-up oriented, Hopkins pointed out that’s not exclusively the case — NewTown and others are doing more and more to make downtown recognized as a family place for shopping, eating and having fun.

Some of the most recent businesses to open downtown are geared for families like climbing at Macon Rocks or slinging axes at targets at Maniax Axe Throwing. Yes, that’s a family thing and you see families there hitting targets frequently plus there are Velcro throwing set-ups and a table with activities for the younger ones.

And on First Fridays, NewTown has its Family Fun Zone in Third Street Park with games and activities from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Hopkins said there are STEAM activities by the Library Without Walls and the Museum of Arts and Sciences has a pop-up wildlife experience planned from 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

If your clan is sports-minded, or even if it’s not, there’s free First Friday admission to the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. thanks to the Beverly Knight Olson Children’s Hospital.

Beyond that, there are the usual and unusual First Friday activities at galleries, clubs, eateries and shops. A good place to track it all is at NewTown’s First Friday event page on Facebook. Search “November First Friday” at facebook.com.

One notable November First Friday highlight is “Storytellers Macon: Live at the Douglass” at 7:30 p.m. It’s billed as the stories of five individuals who are resilient, growing stronger and defining Black excellence by refusing to silence their voices. Tickets are at douglasstheatre.org. Find information by searching “Storytellers Macon: Live at The Douglass” on Facebook.

Elsewhere around Middle Georgia, the Warner Robins Little Theatre begins its run of “Dial M for Murder” tonight and continues it for the next two weekends. Most have seen or heard of the Alfred Hitchcock movie but the play’s WRLT director, Francis Bleyer, said it was on stage before on screen. He said it’s not so much a British “who-done-it” as a “will-they-get-away-with-it.”

“We’re staying as true to the original as we can with mid-1950s English accents and settings,” he said. “It’s a great cast with a lot of newcomers who are doing great work so we’re excited about that. It’s been an easy play to direct and a pleasure to work with the new and experienced cast members.”

It’s Bleyer’s second show to direct though he’s acted in others since coming to Warner Robins in 2017 via the Air Force Reserve Command where he’s a senior master sergeant.

“I’ve wanted to get back involved with theater since my high school days and community theater here is a great place to do it,” he said. “I’d say this is a real community event and I’m thankful for all the help I’ve gotten from Leslie Campillo our producer and from Theatre Macon and Macon Little Theatre for their help with costuming and furniture. It’s been great and I think audiences will see that and really enjoy coming out.”

WRLT is at 502 S Pleasant Hill Rd. in Warner Robins. Their phone is (478) 929-4579 and website is www.wrlt.org for information and tickets.

Here are a few things coming in weeks ahead:

• Macon Arts Alliance’s Fire & Ice Ceramic and Glass Exhibition and Sale is Nov. 12-20 at the Round Building at Carolyn Crayton Park. In addition to items on display and for sale there will be a free glass blowing demonstration by Bryan Beck on Nov. 13, a floral demonstration by Mary Pinson Nov. 16 and a happy hour and trunk show featuring Sarah Tinsley Parker Nov. 18. Details are at maconartsalliance.org/fireice.
• MaconLittle Theatre presents “9 to 5: The Musical” Nov. 12-21. Based on the popular movie featuring Dolly Parton and her music, the feel-good classic focuses on the challenging working lives of Violet, Judy and Doralee who are constantly passed over and harassed by their boss in a hostile work environment. Revenge ensues. Ticketing and information are at maconlittletheatre.org.
• Rock guitar legend, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee and KISS co-founder Ace Frehley will be at the Hargray Capitol Theatre on Nov. 13 at 8 p.m. Known as Space Ace/The Spaceman with silver stars around his eyes in KISS, Frehley has had post-KISS success as a solo artist and in 2020 was ranked the 14th Greatest Metal Guitarist of All Time by Guitar World magazine. Info is at hargraycapitoltheatre.com.
• The Warner Robins Community Concert Association presents Ensemble Aubade Nov. 14 at 3 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, 205 N. Davis Dr., Warner Robins. The Boston-based group has been hailed for its intensity, imagination, skill and finesse featuring flute, viola and piano. Admission is $15 with students admitted free. Information is at wrconcert.org.

Contact writer Michael W. Pannell at mwpannell@gmail.com.