Summer in the Ville

Just in time for summer we have a new wine bar opening – tonite! Or really, this afternoon at 3:30. I’ll pop in around 4, so come see me! Bacchus is located on West Jackson St., the stretch between the train tracks and Lavish. It looks chic + modern, and they’ll have Sparkleberry Cottage baked goods, so they’re off to a good start.

For my Townies with kiddies, summer camps are almost here, and here are my top picks:

Thomasville Center for the Arts - Everything from Strings and Bugs to Road Trips and Ballet

Thomasville YMCA – Wild West Camp, Golf, Tennis, Basketball, Gymnastics and Cheer camp

Sweet Grass Dairy Day Camp – A really wonderful experience with animals, healthy food and the outdoors

Girl Scout Day Camp – for girls K-12, swimming, dancing… and BB guns!! Contact Niki Hoyt – 200-9076

Happy Thursday, friends!

Be Nice to Yer Mama!

Mother’s Day is coming up and there are FIVE great events that you could treat your mama with!

This Friday + Saturday is the Music + Drama Troupe’s Spring Show. Nearly 120 middle + high school students from Southwest Georgia will be performing a mix of Broadway, Top 40, rock, country + classical music. Tickets are available at Thomasville Visitors Center.

Then on Sunday, Pebble Hill Plantation is inviting all mothers to visit for free! They’ll be treated to the docent-led tour of the Main House and a self-guided tour of the grounds. Plus they’ll receive 20% off items in the gift shop.

Also on Sunday, another great freebie is the Sundays at Four concert sponsored by Thomas University’s Arts for the Community and hosted by Trinity Anglican down on Jackson St.  Treat Mama to performances by soprano Christina Lee + alto Barbara Lang, lullaby selections + Donizetti by flutist Lisa Hand with pianist Jim Amend. Pianist/vocalist/dramatist Ben Gunter and organist/pianist Steven Turner from Pelham will also perform a variety of selections.

The last one is Sunday, too – the Birdsong Mother’s Day Walk. Enjoy nesting birds, wildflowers + the lush green of spring on the trails and then visit the Butterfly Garden and Bird Window.  $4 Friends, $8 nonmembers, children half-price.

It doesn’t take a lot of dough to show your Mama how much you care. These events are a great way to spend time with her and show that you’re thinking about her.
{But if you’re giving a gift… my top picks are Earth Lover, At Home, Lavish and The Gift Shop!}

Biking in the Ville

It’s about to get too warm for much of it, but I wanted to do a little post in honor of the wonderfulness that is Biking in Thomasville. When I moved here over five years ago, I rarely saw anyone walking, much less biking. We moved from Athens and I was used to walking places – but when I walked here, I was stopped more than once and asked, “Sugar, did your car break down?” How sweet of total strangers to be so concerned! But it’s even sweeter that biking and walking are becoming more popular.

I cherish my bike trips downtown to pick up my Orchard Pond CSA bag every other week, and I’ve started picking up small grocery items at the Smith Ave. Harvey’s, too. Fellow Townies Karen and Haile also bike around and sometimes we have a bike meet-up for lunch. The Palmers at Moonspin are a great recovery drink

Got that nifty bike bell from Firefly...

In general, I try to stick to the back neighborhood roads, or streets with sidewalks like Clay and Dawson. People are always courteous, and I even saw a lady outside the Y who said “I want to be like you when I grow up!” I’m still not sure about that one, but I think she means taking the extra time to ride my bike rather than drive.

You can get bike-goodies from Chastain’s {bikes, cup holders, mirrors} and Dash {bikes, clothing} and Firefly {bike stickers, baskets}. My ride is rigged-looking with a plastic milk crate strapped to the front. I have a nicer basket, but it won’t fit a grocery sack….

Hope to see you riding around! And if you see me, please wave! But don’t honk… I startle easily

Pssst…. the NEW PATIO is going in over at The Plaza – actually 2 patios!
Plus…. if you’d like to sign up for a summer CSA, I use + love Orchard Pond Organic. Another local option is Pasco Farms here.

The Whole Shebang

With the Landmarks Derby Party rightaroundthecorner I’m pretty excited about two events this week! First, the Kayce Hughes Trunk Show at Firefly – these things are totally my style, and totally Derby-worthy. They’ve got dresses, skirt, shirts and kiddie clothes, too.  Thursday – Saturday.

Pssst….. and Firefly is having a BIG jewelry sale! Starting today and adding stuff throughout the weekend.

And to make sure you’re a good contender for the Ladies Hat Contest – get over to Mode on Friday for the Hat Party. They’ll have drinks and decorations and it sounds like fun! Plus, a portion  of the proceeds supports Landmarks.

I’m hoping to be at the Firefly trunk show bright and early this morning, so come say hello! And I’ll be at Sweet Grass this evening {before writing group at the Bookshelf} – maybe enjoying one of these babies – the new To Go cheese tray!

$15 and you're in and out!

Pssst… Dash is having a sale this weekend, too!

Due South, Dogwood + Derby!

Obviously Due South is tonite – if you see me come say hi! And kudos to Skyline Printing for fabbing up the event with cups, posters, etc.

So I’m pretty sure tonite is going to be pretty dang awesome – but if that’s not enough awesomeness for you, then check out Moultrie’s Dogwood Festival tomorrow. I know, I know – it’s not in T-Vegas so why am I sharing it? Because Drivin + Cryin is big and it would be wrong not to let you know.

And then, my darling friends, there is THE party of the year…. the Landmarks Kentucky Derby Party! Next Saturday, dining + dancing and a mint julep or five {no… just one!} – this is the party everyone looks forward to each year and everyone is talking about for a week after. Ladies, be sure to wear your best or most outrageous hat, because the competition is fierce for the Hat Contest. {I say that as the creator of two previous winners!} Gotta get those tickets – gettem here!

And if the Museum of History is a little more your style, check out their new exhibit Thomasville Collects. It includes a tour and will be open this weekend {starting today} and next weekend for Rose Show.

Psssst… the latest whispers…

Colson Plantation is getting a new name, a new purpose, and from what I’m hearing it’s sounding like the coolest thing to hit Thomasville in a while….. I’ll keep you updated!

I also heard that Liam’s might be doing CREPES for Brunch next Saturday – a savory and a sweet – I sincerely hope so!

And are you into craft beer? Join the Thomasville Beer Club, the first meeting will be at Liam’s on May 1st with news + brews.

The Good and the Bad

The bad news first – Gecko Gardens is leaving us. So tragic, such a cool space and such sweet people! But let’s send them out in style and with lots of T-ville love. They’re hosting a going-out-of-business sale next Thursday the 26th – Saturday the 28th.

And now for the good news! Two tickets to the next biggest Tville event of the year – Due South!
You. Could. Win.

How?

1. Comment on this blog post {below}

2. SHARE my FB post of this event {I’ll give all the shares an extra entry!}

A winner will be picked on Wednesday at 4PM. Alright – ready set share + hope to see you there!

The Hottest Tickets in Town

The hottest ticket in town today is…. free! At 2PM today you can join me on the lawn at Thomas University for their modern rendition of the Odyssey – a humorous look at ancient times. I’ve been to one of these TU plays on the lawn a few years ago – Shakespeare – and it’s just the sort of thing you find in bigger cities. Fun, free and not your average afternoon. For more info, contact Lisa Mitchell at lmitchell@thomasu.edu or (229) 226-1621 Ext. 1101.

Other hot tickets coming up? This Saturday nite is the grand finale of the TCA Indie Film Series. This movie is less documentary-style than most of the others and more story-like {watch the trailer here}. It’s about the North GA man who was supposed to be cremating bodies, but wasn’t. Very Southern Gothic, and, well, that’s right up my alley. Getcher tickets here and 1/2 of the proceeds will go to Thomasville Landmarks! A double whammy. And come early for the latest exhibit opening featuring abstract art and a series of works inspired by the Civil Rights Movement in Albany.

And the hottest of the hot… right here, friends… is Due South! It’s right around the corner, only $20 for general admission and you’ll get an evening of great music from Tally’s New 76ers and Charleston’s Blue Dogs. Or bump up to a sponsor level and experience all that the local food scene has to offer – including the freshest local ingredients and local food artisans. Grab those tickets right here.

Here’s to hoping your Hump Day is less of a hump and more of a water slide to the weekend!

Just Another Thomasville Business…

Happy Tuesday to you! Hope your Monday wasn’t too harsh, just after Spring Break and all. We’ve got some good news over here… we’ve got a new partner on the blog that I’m pretty excited about!

Earthlover is one of the newest boutiques in Downtown Thomasville and they’ve been making waves. Their focus is Fair Trade goods – but it’s not just saris and flip flops, y’all. Hand woven baskets, tabletop items, handbags – there are lots of Fair Trade items. The owner, Tammy, is passionate about giving back and that’s why she decided to go into Fair Trade items. Earthlover is the only Fair Trade certified store in South GA, and one of only 3 in the whole state.

Batik Weekender Bag

What’s Fair Trade? Here are the principles:

• Guarantee producers a living wage for their work
• Build long term relationships between producers and buyers
• Engage in environmentally sustainable practices
• Empower women and provides equal employment opportunities for all, especially the most disadvantaged
• Provide healthy and safe working conditions
• Ensure transparency and accountability

Hand Carved Sustainable Acacia Wood Salad Set

Tammy started with a dream of owning a meaningful business, then started a website and eventually knew she had to have a brick + mortar shop. I’m so glad she chose Thomasville! Of course, if you’re not actually in Thomasville, or you just want to see some FT goodies rightthisminute – you can cruise the Earthlover Website. But if you are in town, be sure to stop by and say hi to Tammy or Monica, or any of the nice gals working there. And just try to get out of there without one of those baskets – love them! Pretty sure I can find something to do with one… right? Clothes hamper? Firewood storage?? {Because it’s oh-so-cold here?}

Thanks so much to Tammy + Earthlover for partnering with the Townie + bringing this Thomasville Life to you!

Hand Woven African Market Baskets

Easter Baskets 201

For your not-so-young menfolk, there is some awesomeness to be had out there…

I know, kinda big for an Easter basket - but so cool! From the Bookshelf.

Doo-dads for the BIKE! Spoke charms, stickers - make somebody's month. From Firefly.

Puppet tattoos.... better than permanent marker, for sure. From Firefly.

And if you know some Bunnies who like to garden, here are some gems just for them:

Herbal Tea Garden, from the Bookshelf.

Seed Sprinkles, from the Bookshelf.

A goooorgeous book + a darling little bonsai tree with a tiny pair of shears. Also from the Bookshelf.

The macarons at Firefly are almost sold out and I’m about worn out from making them! But they are oh. so. tasty. A fellow Townie asked me about baskets and there are always lots of cool fair-trade baskets at Earthlover, not to mention Relics on Madison and Horton-Mitchell over on Smith Ave.

Hoping you have a hippity hoppity happy Easter + sending you lots of love from my little yellow cottage.

Easter Baskets 101

First, you need a basket. This one is actually a bike basket – very clever Bunnies will love that.

Bike baskets from Firefly.

You could also use one of these totes, perfect for Bunnies who like to picnic.

Lined totes from Loli's.

Some little Bunnies like eggs and bunnies  and chicks:

Fillable paper mache eggs from Firefly.

Bunnies + books from the Bookshelf.

Jellycats from Firefly.

Girlie Bunnies might like paper dolls, recipe books, or home repair tools…

Lilly P. paper dolls from Loli's.

Sewing + cake pop books from the Bookshelf.

J. Adler tool kits from Loli's.

Up next we’ll have some ideas for your more manly Bunnies… maybe you’d call them hares? That sounds more manly, anyway.