Where Have I Been?

Where have I been?

Good question.

I've been BUSY.

Let's recap in photos..

Let's go back about two weeks... Girl's night out at TWANG in Macon. Click on the link to see the menu!

Me, Cate, JJ, & Georgia (same girls I went to Hilton Head with) - Relaxing at the Bar at Twang!

Regina and I at Twang

JJ & I at Twang!

After cocktails.. we headed to the loft area for dinner! A table full of thespians!

A Twang Tea - Southern Comfort - Peach Schnapps - Sweet Tea. Can we get anymore southern?

Spent some time with Auttie Blossom at Krispy Kreme (another southern institution)

Spent some time at Capricorn Records? Not familiar? It's located in Downtown Macon. Click on the link - it just might blow your mind. ;-)

Salvatore did not want to let me go to work..

Invited my friend and fellow writer, Molly, to Rotary with me.

Hung out with Director of Fine Art at MAA (Heatherly) and Executive Dir of the 567, Melissa. Just artsy chicks having a little fun at a Pop Up Gallery. Bravo's "Gallery Girls" got nothing on us. ;-)

Had dinner a beer with my friend Cate at The Rookery

Spent a little time at Grant's Lounge. Who performed on this stage? Ready to get your mind blown? Click on the link. yep... that's in my hometown too. ;-) People don't believe us.. but Macon is the HOME of southern rock. Seriously. The sound was invented here.. and on this stage. ;-) CLICK ON THE LINK.

More friends of mine at the Pop Up Gallery Preview Party

I made time for chocolate cake

Spent a little time in the dressing room of Theater Macon.. That's me being silly in the back on the right..

Hung out with my friends at MAA

Want to know what Soul Food/Southern Cooking is? Welcome to H&H in Macon.

Rushed Zen Kitty to the vet. Allergies.. bless his heart

Spent some time at Theater Macon... backstage..

Hanging out with my friend, Chris, at the Pop Up Gallery

Watched my mom and her friends do a "painting in the round"

Tucked Zen kitty in.. he was not feeling well...

The founder of my museum and his wife on the left, and my boss and his wife on the right

Some of mom's friends at the gallery

Me, Susie and Kathy at the CVB

Scott and I hanging out at the Pop Up Gallery

Maybe you don't understand the importance of this restaurant? Click on this LINK - H&H Even Oprah was raving about this restaurant when she visited Macon.

My interior design friend, Betsy, and I hung out a little at the Pop Up Gallery Preview Party

Leadership Macon at Grant's Lounge

The famous Mama Louise at H&H

Bill and I hanging out at Grant's Lounge

Finally.. REAL soul food... at H&H

What have YOU been up to?

I Heart Macon...

 I just got back from an official "i heart macon" event. Yes, I meant for those words to be in all lower case and yes, we actually have a day to celebrate our city.

Some of you may find that odd - but it happened.

My hometown has.. well.. sort of a bad reputation. Sure, the crime is high, and yes, there is a limit to shopping experiences and some multi-cultural experiences. However, there is a whole lotta good, and that was what today was about.

I could honestly make a list of at least 50 things that are bad about Macon. Probably like I could make a list of 50 bad things about my family, or my job, or anything else for that matter. But on the other hand, I could write 50 or more even better things and that is sort of what today was all about.

For fun, I thought I would challenge myself. I wanted to actually make a list of the ten BEST things about Macon. 

1. I heart Macon because... there is SOMETHING going on every. single. night. Seriously! Macon tries really hard to offer things to do. You only have to look! I recommend Ovations365 or the Macon CVB website or pick up the 11th Hour. 

2. I heart Macon because... one word - (technically two) THE ARTS. I have visited most major cities up and down the eastern seaboard, and I have YET to find a city more compelled to not only support but celebrate the arts. When I moved away, that was one of the biggest brags I had on Macon. You will not find more artists/musicians/actors/vocalist/writers etc. per square capita as you will find here! It's wildly inspiring.

3. I heart Macon because... of the MUSIC heritage. Did you know that Otis Redding, Little Richard, The Allman Brothers and sooo many more grew up here? Ever heard of Capricorn Records? Are you a fan of Jason Aldean? If you even attempt to learn about our rich musical heritage, you will only begin to scratch the surface. 

4. I heart Macon because... of the food. I love Nuway hot dogs. I love Polly's La Mesa. I love H&H. I love Roasted. I love Dolce Vita. I love Papouli's. And sooo many other local favorites. Some of these are hidden treasures, but those from here.. they know.

5. I heart Macon because.. it is close to great places for a get-a-way. We are an hour or so from Atlanta. Two hours from Savannah and the Atlantic Ocean. Two hours from the North Georgia Mountains. 3 1/2 hours from the Florida border. Not far from Chattanooga or Birmingham or Charleston. I can get to New Orleans in 8 hours, and I can even make it to the tip of Key West by the time you get off work, if I leave really early in the morning. 

6. I heart Macon because.. of the amazing loyalty to this place. I have never met more people who are absolutely passionate about this small city.

7. I heart Macon because.. of the rich history. The architecture. There is nothing like walking down a cobblestone street that has Spanish moss draped from the oak trees, or strolling past the antebellum homes. Greek Revival and Southern Gothic vibes all around.

8. I heart Macon because.. it is always changing. From the revitalization that was just a good idea 15 years ago, to seeing the definite improvements upon moving back.

9. I heart Macon because.. I will get to be a part of it's "coming out" party to the African American community in the nation. Once our museum - the Tubman African American Museum is completed, people all over the nation will hear about this enormous institution.

10. Finally.. I heart Macon because... I was born and raised here. My family is from here. My friends live here. It's home.

Why do YOU love Macon?

PS - Some of my favorite people at the i heart macon event:

Me, Stephanie (Marketing Director from the CVB) and Steven (Downtown Visitor's Center Manager)

Me with one of our interns at the Tubman Museum. Kelsea attends my alma mater, Georgia College & State University and is a Public History major.

Jonathon (Communications Director of the Macon Arts Alliance) and Jeff (the Curator of the Tubman Museum.)